Commissioning of Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Akita Prefecture, Serving the Tohoku Region
The Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Tokyo successfully commissioned Mr. Hiroki Miura as Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Akita on Saturday, 1st September 2018. Mr. Miura’s appointment will cover the Tohoku Consular District, which consists of six large prefectures in North-East of Japan.
Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Mataitoga presenting the Consular Commission to Mr. Miura, formalizing his appointment as Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Akita, while Mrs. Miura looks on.
The ceremony was marked by the official presentation of the Consular Commission – signed by the Hon. Josaia V. Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs – by Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Isikeli Mataitoga to the newly commissioned Mr. Miura.
The commissioning ceremony was held at the ALVE Akita before 250 guests that included the Honorable Members of the Diet, Governor of Akita Prefecture, Mayor of Akita City, Councilors of respective towns and cities in Akita and the Tohoku region. Attending the occasion were also members of the business community, representatives of NGOs as well as academia. Also witnessing the event were the members of the Nasinu Secondary School Under 15 Rugby Team, which is currently in Akita for a week of rugby and cultural exchanges with the Akita City and schools.
In congratulating Mr. Miura on behalf of the Government of Fiji, Ambassador Mataitoga expressed profound gratitude for his willingness to assist Fiji in building and strengthening the Fiji-Japan relationship in the Tohoku region. H.E Mataitoga also underscored Fiji’s long-standing emphasis and work in establishing and maintaining friendly relations with partners who have demonstrated genuine goodwill towards Fiji. And the growing bond between Fiji and Akita in recent times necessitated the establishment of this new Honorary Consulate appointment. It is also a reflection of the goodwill enjoyed between Japan and Fiji since 1970 in promoting economic, commercial and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
L-R: Mr. Ochida (Chairman Akita Rugby Union), Mr. Motomu HOZUMI (Akita City Mayor), H.E Mr.Norihisa SATAKE (Governor – Akita Prefecture), Mr Hiroki Miura (Fiji’s Honorary Consul in Akita), Mrs.Miura, and H.E Ambassador Mataitoga, after the presentation of the Consular Commission.
With the establishment of the new Honorary Consulate in Akita, Ambassador Mataitoga is confident that this will lay the platform for Fiji to deepen its reach in promoting tourism, trade, and investment in the greater Tohoku region. The Fiji Embassy in Japan is confident that the presence of the Honorary Consulate will encourage, support and translate business/investment opportunities into tangible benefits for Fiji and Japan. The office will also be an excellent point of information dissemination about Fiji.
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Expression of Interest – Development of Wairabetia Economic Zone
http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/973-tender-csc-301-2017
Hon.Dr.Luveni Leads Fiji Delegation to the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum on Global Health
Speaker of Parliament, the Hon.Dr.Jiko Luveni led a high-level delegation from Fiji that visited Japan during the month, to attend the 3rd Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum on Global Health Forum held from 23-25 August, 2017 in Tokyo. Members of the delegation included the Health Minister, Hon.Rosy Akbar and Member of Parliament, the Hon.Anare Vadei.
Fiji’s delegation; Hon.Luveni, HonAkbar and Hon.Vadei among Parliamentarians partcipants at the 2-day Global Health Forum
The Forum on Global Health provides a platform for parliamentarians from 30 countries to exchange ideas in promoting action for achieving health targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (2030 SDGs), particularly through accelerating actions in priority issues like NCDs and healthy ageing.
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Fiji Embassy Tokyo
Bilateral Talks – Hon.Speaker Dr.Jiko Luveni Meets with Hon.Tadamori Oshima
The Honorable Dr Jiko Luveni Speaker of the Fijian Parliament had a meeting with her Japanese counterpart, the Honorable Mr Tadamori Oshima the Speaker of the House of Representative of the Japanese Diet in Tokyo on 23 August 2017.
The Hon.Dr.Luveni was in Tokyo, Japan, leading the Fiji Parliamentary delegation to the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum on Global Health, and also took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on her counterpart.
The two leaders exchanged comments covering several issues and the role of Parliamentarians in promoting these issues.
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Bilateral Talks – Attorney General Meets Hon.Odagawa
Hon.Aiayaz Sayed-Khaiyum with Hon.Odawara
Fiji’s Attorney General and Minister for Economy, the Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum met with Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Kiyoshi Odawara. Fiji’s presidency of COP23 – the ongoing UN climate negotiations – was the focus of talks in Tokyo on 2 May 2017, between the two Ministers.
The AG – who is the Minister responsible for Climate Change – echoed the Prime Minister’s call for Fiji’s development partners to do everything possible to support Fiji’s presidency on behalf of Pacific island nations and other vulnerable nations of the world.
He also expressed Fiji’s desire to see Japan play a significant role in supporting Fiji’s COP 23 Presidency.
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Fiji Embassy Tokyo
Rugby Exchange – QVS U18 Rugby Team Welcomed in Saga City
HE Mataitoga and QVS team/officials with their hosts – Saga Prefecture (officials)
The QVS U18 Rugby Team was welcomed at Saga City by Governor Yamaguchi and Mayor Sato, and later hosted by the two Prefectural Officials to a welcome dinner on Monday 24 April 2017. The team was representing Fiji at the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament that was held in Fukuoka, Japan from 28 April to 5 May 2017. This is the second year that a Team from Fiji, and QVS for that matter, have been invited to the tournament.
In January this year the Governor of Saga Prefecture, Japan, Mr Yoshinori YAMAGUCHI and a delegation of senior officials from Saga visited QVS to see first-hand the rehabilitation work at the school after the devastation of TC Winston in February 2016.
The QVS Group was made up of 30 student players and 4 officials, led by school Principal, Mr Seru Banuve.
The Saga Prefectural Government hosted the QVS team for one week prior to the commencement of the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Fukuoka, allowing the team to acclimatize, at the same time participate in cultural exchanges with Saga Schools and communities.
The exchange is part of the program that the Fiji Embassy in Japan has been developing with a few Japanese Prefectures, as part of the Sports/Cultural Diplomacy in the lead up to the 2019 WRC in Japan and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Fiji Embassy Tokyo
FET at the 41st Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society (ALFS) Charity Bazaar – 2017
Madame Mataitoga with Ms Fiji 2017 – Ms Valkyrie Joana Yoko KEKSTADT, whose mother is a Fiji national
The Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society (ALFS) comprising of spouses of Ambassadors from Asia-Pacific countries based in Tokyo and the Japanese ladies hosted its annual “Charity Bazaar” at the ANA Inter-Continental Hotel, Tokyo on Wednesday, 19th April 2017. The event was officiated by HIH Princess Hanako Hitachi. With 23 member countries from the Asia Pacific region and a general membership of over 300, the bazaar provided a good opportunity for the public to witness the fruit and efforts of diplomatic and Japanese members of ALFS working together. Proceeds from the charity event are shared amongst participating countries for charitable assistance in their home countries.
Madame Venina Mataitoga greeted HIH Princess Hanako Hitachi at the Fiji Handicraft booth and introduced Her Imperial Highness to the various products offered by our booth. Fiji’s participation included a Fiji Food booth and a separate booth for Handicraft goods. Fiji brand commodities like AQUA Pacific water, Island Chill Water, Pure Fiji and Virgin Coconut Oil products generated quite a lot of interest.
FET – Food Booth
The yearly occasion remains as a tremendous opportunity to market Fiji in terms of tradable commodities and Fiji as a tourist destination. The Embassy is truly grateful for the assistance from Fiji friends who volunteered to assist at the Fiji booths and all to those that purchased the FET – ALFS Charity Bazaar 2017 Door and Raffle tickets. The four-hour event was enjoyed by everyone who attended.
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Fiji Embassy Tokyo
Consultations with JEVIC Co.Ltd
HE Mr Isikeli Mataitoga visited the Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center Co. Ltd. (JEVIC) on Tuesday, 7th February 2017, and met with Mr Damon Jackson, President and CEO of JEVIC at the company Head Office Yokohama.
Also attending the meeting were were Mr Yasuhiro hayakawa, Director and General Manager, Mr Aaron Treadaway and Mr Lee Sayer IT & Public Relations Manager from JEVIC, while Ms Kelera Savu, Second Secretary accompanied Ambassador Mataitoga.
JEVIC is a Japanese-registered company whose business activities include pre-shipment inspection and certification of cargo. JEVIC services are primarily for used-vehicle inspection and extend to vessels, containers and new vehicles, and they provide independent pre-shipment inspections, surveys, verification` and certifications. JEVIC currently inspect/certifies all used vehicles currently being imported into Fiji from Japan.
The visit was an opportunity for the FET to see first hand the inspection site and procedures undertaken for each vehicle that undergoes inspection and certification for shipment to Fiji.
Close Collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Japan
HE Mr Isikeli Mataitoga met with the Director of the International Policy Division (IPD), Ministry of Defense (MOD), Japan, Ms Mitsuko Hayashi on Wednesday, 8th February 2017, at the MoD HQ.
The meeting discussed and looked at ways to diversify defence cooperation between Fiji and Japan.
The meeting was attended to by Second Secretary Kelera Savu; and Deputy Director, Capacity Building Assistance Office, IPD, Mr Takashi Komori; Defense Official, Capacity Building Assistance Office, Mr Masaya Mizoguchi; and Defense Official, Ms Mariko Yasui.