No specific port project identified, says Fiji’s Foreign Minister, day after Quad Foreign Ministers pledge assistance
Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs A day after the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi declared that the grouping would build port infrastructure in the Pacific island of Fiji, Fijian Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said that no relevant port project has been “agreed” at the moment, though Fiji is in talks with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact of the United States regarding port infrastructure. In response to questions from The Hindu, Mr. Ditoka said in a written response that Fiji’s approach to developing its infrastructure is driven by plans to create better facilities that will support its commercial ambitions. “No specific port project has been identified or agreed at this stage. The process is at the Root Cause Analysis phase, which will then move into Concept Notes and, subject to agreement, potentially to more detailed feasibility and design work,” said Mr. Ditoka, indicating that the declaration of a port project made here by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong as well as U.S. …
