IMF Deputy Managing Director praises Fijian Govt's reconstruction efforts after TC Winston

The Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Tao Zhang has praised the Fijian Government’s reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Winston as quick and admirable.

This is after meeting with the Attorney‑General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum where Zhang also credited Fiji’s projected economic growth rate of nearly 3% to Government’s recovery and reconstruction policies that kept Fiji on the right track.

Zhang was also updated on the progress of Cyclone Winston rehabilitation and other ongoing efforts by Government to diversify the Fijian economy.

Sayed-Khaiyum also outlined potential investment opportunities in tourism‑related activities in Fiji, such as recreational parks and high‑end shopping, along with health, housing and ICT development in the meeting.

IMF Tao Zhang met with the Fiji Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. IMF is committed to help Fiji in various ways pic.twitter.com/mrFCdHVjWC

— IMF (@IMFNews) December 7, 2016

He has called for more tailored training under IMF programmes in the Pacific.

The Attorney General says the geographic and economic differences between Pacific and Asian countries should be considered, regardless of the fact that these countries fall under the same groupings within the IMF.

The Deputy Managing Director of IMF will also visit school reconstruction sites in Ba before leaving for Vanuatu.