The European Union yesterday signed an agreement with Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama in Papua New Guinea which will see the EU providing Fiji with $23.4 million to support our recovery effort in the wake of Cyclone Winston.
Bainimarama said this allocation is on top of the $65.5 million already pledged by the EU to Fiji under the National Indicative Program of assistance for sugar and agriculture and improving access to justice.
$2.3 million was also given by the EU in the immediate aftermath of Winston.
Bainimarama said the way in which this assistance is being provided is especially appreciated.
He said this will be direct support for our national budget to enable the government to set priorities and distribute the funding where it is most needed.
The Prime Minister said the EU is recognising that the best way to deliver assistance is through a partnership with the Government.
He said this funding is destined to improve the lives of many thousands of Fijians, and especially those in our agricultural sector, including sugar, who have been especially hard hit by Cyclone Winston.
Of the total damage bill to the nation of more than $3 billion, around $540 million of that is in the agricultural sector, according to the recent Post Disaster Needs Assessment.
Bainimarama said Fiji’s all up losses in the sugar cane industry add up to $163 million.
The loss of workers’ livelihoods is $53 million, the damage and losses at the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s mills is more than $72 million, production infrastructure losses are almost $17 million and a further $19.7 million has been lost in industry services.
The Prime Minister said there is no doubt the extent of the challenge faced by the 200,000 Fijians who depend on sugar for their livelihoods or those in other agricultural sectors.
Bainimarama is leading a delegation this week to the 8th African Caribbean and Pacific Summit in Port Moresby.
79 ACP member countries are attending the summit.
Meanwhile Bainimarama also had informal discussions with the PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill yesterday afternoon.
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