Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Axel van Trotsenburg met this morning to discuss the re-invigorated partnership between the World Bank and the Fijian government following last year’s election.

Van Trotsenburg and a team of World Bank officials will also meet with the Minister of Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, other development partners, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Van Trotsenburg said today’s meeting is a chance to strengthen the World Bank’s engagement with Fiji and discuss Prime Minister Bainimarama’s development objectives for the country.

He congratulated Fiji, and Prime Minister Bainimarama, on the recent democratic elections.

The World Bank has previously acknowledged its plans to support the Fijian government’s development priorities, including transport infrastructure repairs, fostering private business growth and investment, improving livelihoods in rural areas and helping Fiji become more resilient to natural disasters.

Bainimarama said Fiji is eager for continued constructive dialogue on the areas the government has identified as most important for the nation’s development and the people of Fiji.