Visit to Fiji

As Australia reopens to the world, I will visit Fiji from 11-18 November, to further strengthen Australia’s Vuvale partnership.

I will meet with Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Honourable Inia Seruiratu to promote our aligned interests in regional security, and tour significant security and humanitarian infrastructure developments including the Blackrock Peacekeeping & Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief Camp.

My visit will align with the first commercial flight between our nations since borders closed at the start of the pandemic, highlighting Australia’s confidence in Fiji’s COVID-19 management and economic recovery.

I will meet with Minister for Health and Medical Services the Honourable Ifereimi Waqainabete to discus Fiji’s world-class response to COVID-19. Over one million Australian vaccines and extensive medical assistance have helped Fiji to control the pandemic. I look forward to meeting Fiji’s frontline heroes, whose selfless efforts have saved countless lives.

The economic impact of international border closures on Fiji has been severe, but Fiji’s future is bright, with the country welcoming back Australian tourists from 1 December 2021. Australian tourists will play a critical role in Fiji’s economic recovery from COVID-19, and I will meet with Fiji’s tourism operators to discuss this issue.

The visit will aim to deepen Australia’s already strong trade and economic ties with Fiji. I will meet with Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport the Honourable Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, and Sports the Honourable Parveen Bala, as well as key business leaders, to discuss shared opportunities, including how Fiji’s skilled workers can help meet Australian workforce shortages.

Australia and Fiji enjoy strong people-to-people links, especially through sport. I am excited to showcase Australia’s PacificAus Sports initiatives, which are supporting Fijian athletes and teams to realise their dreams. I will meet with representatives of the Fiji Silktails and the Fiji Drua, as both teams will be based in Australia next year.

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