The Prime Minister met with India's Minister for Finance, Pranab Mukherjee, early in the week at the ADB Annual meeting in, Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister thanked the Government of India during the meeting for their on-going assistance and support, particularly in Fiji's efforts for re-engagement by multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ADB, and the World Bank.
He also briefed Minister Mukherjee on the political and economic developments in Fiji emphasizing the need to set in place frameworks that will ensure sustainable democracy.
The Prime Minister stated that Government's priority in the next three years was growing the economy.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to Fiji's sugar industry, specifically the Indian Sugar Technical Mission (STM) for mill upgrading to improve operational efficiency and commercial viability.
It was highlighted that the recommendations of the STM were implemented by an agreement between the Indian government and the previous Fiji Government through a strategic framework for the sugar industry in Fiji.
The Prime Minister informed India's Minister for Finance that the intended benefits of the restructure have not been realized due to both technical failure and delays that had resulted in massive losses that the industry cannot sustain.
In this respect, assistance from the government of Indian was sought to ensure the viability of the industry on which around 30 percent of Fiji's population depended.
The Indian Minister expressed the Indian government's continued support for Fiji in various forums, in our efforts for re-engagement and assured the Prime Minister that the Indian government will explore options to assist the FSC.
