Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka with the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Fiji Development Bank (FDB), Mr. Saud Minam following their meeting in Suva in May.

SUVA – Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka met with a team from the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) in May to discuss potential areas of collaboration between the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and the Bank.

Hon. Ditoka led a team from the Ministry’s senior management to the meeting with FDB’s chief executive officer Mr. Saud Minam and team.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Ministry to learn about the products of the Bank, and the enormous work that they do to assist rural and maritime dwellers.

In his remarks during the meeting, Hon. Ditoka acknowledged the work done by the bank to assist small and medium entrepreneurs in rural and maritime communities across the country.

“The current focus of the Government is to activate the rural economy, so our collaboration in that area for the benefit of our rural dwellers will be very much appreciated,” Hon. Ditoka said.

During the meeting, Deputy Secretary for the Ministry Mr. Mitieli Cama also briefed the forum on the revised Rural Housing Assistance (RHA) and the Rural Outer Island (ROI) Programmes which are currently before Cabinet for consideration.

The meeting also discussed how the Ministry, the FDB and the relevant stakeholders could work together to unlock some of the untapped potentials available in rural areas across Fiji, especially in the implementation of programmes that will address reduction in poverty and improvement in living standards, and enhancing sustainable economic growth.

Mr. Minam thanked the Hon. Minister and team for meeting with his team and stated that the Bank looked forward to working with the Ministry going forward.

-ENDS-

The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management is responsible for implementing development strategies that bring Fijians living in rural and maritime regions the same level of access to essential services and economic opportunities as anywhere else in the country. We coordinate and implement the Fiji Government’s rural and maritime development initiatives with a mission to empower Fiji’s rural sector. We also spearhead disaster risk reduction initiatives at national and sub-national level including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. We have offices for each of Fiji’s 14 provinces including Rotuma, leading the Fiji Government’s rural development and disaster risk management operations.

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