Bilateral meeting with The Honourable Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Climate Change, Environment, Civil Service, Information, Public Enterprises and Veteran Affairs of Fiji

Nadi, Fiji - On occasion of the 2024 Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Solutions Forum, the FAO Director-General met with The Honourable Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Climate Change, Environment, Civil Service, Information, Public Enterprises, and Veteran Affairs.

The Director-General opened by highlighting FAO’s efforts to secure environmental financing from a range of sources, including the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and emphasized the importance of close collaboration with countries like Fiji’s to maximize the impact of FAO's initiatives.

Looking ahead to FAO’s 80th anniversary in 2025, the Director-General announced plans to inaugurate the Food & Agriculture Museum and Network as part of the celebrations.

The Director-General also discussed the transformative potential of digital solutions for agrifood systems, particularly in rural areas, underscoring digitalization as a key driver of progress. He pointed to e-commerce as a valuable tool for supporting farming households and emphasized the importance of promoting local products like taro, a staple in Fijian cuisine and a symbol of the country’s agricultural heritage.

The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the Director-General, praising FAO’s critical role in advancing global food security under his leadership. The Prime Minister thanked the Director-General for his support, noting the timeliness of the SIDS Forum, as Pacific SIDS face common challenges that require collaborative solutions. He highlighted Fiji’s achievements in addressing these issues, particularly in nutrition, while preserving traditional knowledge and customs, positioning Fiji as a model for culturally sensitive, sustainable development.