Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka receives a framed rugby jersey as gift from his NZ counterpart, Hon. Mark Mitchell after their bilateral meeting in Wellington, NZ.
SUVA – Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka recently held a bilateral meeting with New Zealand’s Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Hon. Mark Mitchell at the Beehive in Wellington, NZ.
During the meeting, Hon. Ditoka reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthening the enduring partnership between Fiji and New Zealand in the areas of disaster management and resilience building.
In expressing the Fiji Government’s gratitude to his NZ counterpart for support extended to Fiji over the years, Minister Ditoka shared that as Pacific nations, both Fiji and NZ faced unique and significant challenges posed by natural disasters. He also highlighted some notable areas of support from the NZ Government.
“Fiji and New Zealand have enjoyed formal diplomatic relations since 1970. Over the years, New Zealand has proven to be a steadfast friend to Fiji across multiple sectors, including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The support provided by New Zealand has significantly enhanced the capacity and capabilities of our National Disaster Management Office (NDMO),” Hon. Ditoka said.
Minister Ditoka highlighted areas of potential collaboration, particularly aimed at the capacity building and training of staff, provision of technological and technical assistance, and the execution of joint and simulation exercises to enhance Fiji’s operational capabilities.
Hon. Ditoka also shared his participation at the recent International Conference for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua and Barbuda, and the empowerment of communities through the revised Natural Disaster Management Act presently before Parliament. Minister Ditoka has also extended an invitation to his NZ counterpart to join him at a panel discussion that would be hosted by Fiji at the upcoming Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) that would be held in the Philippines in October.
Meanwhile, Hon. Ditoka led a delegation comprising of members of the Ministry’s senior management on a weeklong visit to NZ in June. The meeting was held at the invitation of the New Zealand Government’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for peer-to-peer learning and consultation.
The visit was made possible through funding under the endorsed NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (MFAT) grant agreement.
Caption: Members of the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management senior management led by Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka at a recent bilateral meeting with NZ Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Hon. Mark Mitchell in Wellington, NZ.
