Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Hon. Esrom Immanuel, attended a high-level summit titled “The Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity” from 22–24 February in Hawaii.
The summit, organised by the United States Government, brought together leaders from the Pacific, development partners and private sector representatives to explore viable investment opportunities in the region.
Strategic discussions with Pacific leaders and senior U.S. leadership, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, as well as representatives from the US Millennium Challenge Corporation, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, focused on several key priority areas, including infrastructure, health, energy, tourism, agriculture, banking and finance, and artificial intelligence.
Fiji has successfully secured a US$12 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, with the potential to access large-scale infrastructure financing in the future. The grant agreement is expected to be signed on 28 February in Suva by Deputy Secretary Landau. After a long period, a senior-level U.S. official is expected to visit Fiji.
Hon. Immanuel also had the opportunity to meet several development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, and Fijian students on the sidelines of the meeting. The Ambassador of Fiji to the United States, H.E Ratu Ilisoni Vuidreketi, also accompanied the delegation.
