Asia Environment and Economic Forum

Representing 16 countries from across the Asia-Pacific region, over 45 green policy makers, businessmen and representatives of associations and academia responsible for promoting green technology, green business and eco-products and services converged in Tokyo from 10-12 December 2014 as part of the Asia Environment and Economic Forum. Facilitated by the Asian Productivity Organization [APO], the seminar was a special project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan. His Excellency Ambassador Isikeli Mataitoga and First Secretary Jovesa Vocea attended the first day of the three days programme that was held at Hotel Nikko in Tokyo, Japan.

20141210-01

Ambassador Mataitoga with APO Secretary General, Mr. Mari Amano

In delivering the welcome remarks, the Secretary General of APO, Mr. Mari Amano alluded to the objective of the seminar which was to share best practices in green policy and business from Japan and establish potential collaborations among APO delegates and local participants. SG Amano also highlighted that APO has been promoting Green Productivity [GP] in the Asia-Pacific region since 1994. He mentioned that GP measures that had been undertaken included numerous demonstration projects, international and regional forums, workshops and seminars as such held in member countries over the past decade.

An important topic titled “Impact of Climate Change and Policy Initiatives” was delivered by Mr. Dinesh Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. His presentation was divided into four parts in an effort to explain the Impact of Climate Change and Policy Initiatives in an objective and simple manner. Part 1 focused mainly on the overview and the meaning of important terminologies relating to the subject matter. Part 2 articulated on the salient details of the Major International Initiatives such as the UNFCC Convention-Kyoto Protocol-Bali Road Map-Cancun Agreements-Durban Outcomes-Doha Climate Gateway and Warsaw Outcomes.

20141210-02

Ambassador Mataitoga and FS Vocea with officials and participants

Part 3 of Mr. Sigh’s presentation provided an illustration of National and Regional Programmes and brief details of the National Action Plan on Climate Change of India which was adopted in 2008 with eight [8] National Missions as follows which will run up to 2017: [1] National Solar Mission [2] National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency [3] National Mission on Sustainable Habitat [4] National Water Mission [5] National Mission for Green India [6] National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and [8] National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. The concluding part of his presentation centered on human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases which cause enhanced greenhouse effect that leads to global warming and consequent climate change.

The subject of “Green Productivity, Green Economic Growth and Sustainable Society” was presented Mr. Ryoichi Yamamoto, Specially Appointed Professor at Tokyo Coty University. He reminded participants that we are living in the “Anthropocene Age” where the earth is at the tipping point. Green Productivity has been pushing eco design, green-manufacturing and environmental management. Last but not the least, Green Economic Growth should be made within the doughnut [planetary and social boundaries] while Sustainable Public Procurement will play an essentially important role in Green Growth.

 

Consultations with Mr. Hiroshi Matsumoto, Director of Business Development of the Mana Island Resort & Spa, Fiji

20141208-01

(l-r) Mr Matsumoto and Ambassador Mataitoga

The Director of Business Development for MANA Island Resort & Spa, Fiji held consultations with the Ambassador, HE Mr Isikeli Mataitoga on Monday 8th December 2014, to discuss tourism promotional cooperation as lead up to the direct flights in early 2016.

It was informed that Mr Matsumoto will also hold consultation with Japan`s Ambassador to Fiji, HE Mr Takuji Hanatani on how they can increase Japanese tourists to Fiji. Following Ambassador`s advice, Mr Matsumoto noted that he will also discuss with Fiji`s Tourism Minister, the Honorable Mr Faiyaaz Koya on the direct flights and 2015 charter flights cooperation with Travel Agents such as JTB and ST World. However, a concern raised is that unpopular charter flights may affect Fiji Airways consideration for 2016 direct flights.

Mr Matsumoto advised that Japan is a matured market compared to other Asian markets, and that many young Japanese are travelling a lot nowadays and MANA is seeing this as an opportunity. For instance, MANA will conduct a major renovation in January 2015, and their investment for internal scholarship of $FJ20-30,000FJ a year towards their staff training programme. He also mentioned on the Pure Fiji advices which he will convey to HCG Moriya, stressing that it is very important to note on the Japanese Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, together with regulations and costly procedural requirements at the time of importation. Pure Fiji is looking for Japanese Spa products distributor for their world-famous range of natural beauty products.

The Ambassador also noted that following the Sunday, 14 December 2014 election, the Embassy will once again approach relevant personnel including MOFA Economic Affairs Bureau, Director-General to discuss on the above. He also assured Mr Matsumoto that the Embassy remains consistent in its assistance towards him and the MANA Island Resort & Spa, Fiji.

Ambassador Mataitoga Presents on “Climate Change and its Effects on Island States – Fijian Experience” to United Nations University Graduate Students, UNU HQ in Tokyo

20141204-01

Participants at the UNU Seminar

On Thursday 4th December 2014, H.E. Ambassador Isikeli Mataitoga conducted a seminar on “Climate Change and its effects on island states: Fijian Experience” in Tokyo. SS Savu was also in attendance.

This seminar investigates the current effects of climate change and sea level rise present significant risks to the sustainable development of Small Islands Developing States and the long term effects that have threatened the very existence of some small islands, in particular reference to Fiji.

A brief overview of Fiji and its Climate Change impacts was initially outlined. The Q&A discussion then focuses on the challenges and the Guiding Policies made available to address rising issues. Climate change and rising sea level which currently present significant risks to the sustainable development of SIDS.

It was noted that climate change is seen as an economic issue, as a security issue and bigger players should certainly look into areas of tackling these through variety of forums such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Lima, Peru from 1–12 December 2014. The negotiators in Lima are now focusing on a draft agreement that can be refined before the meeting in Paris next year, 2015.

It is suggested that bigger players will have to play more roles, and make good promises of financing to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change impacts, which range from the spread of diseases to coastal flooding to major disruptions to agriculture and marine resources. Although climate change impacts may not be felt equally across the planet, it is an inherently global issue.

 

Fiji Seminar at Shukutoku Gakuen Junior & Senior High School

On Wednesday, 3 December 2014, TCO Iki Kawabata accompanied by Mrs. Vocea made Fiji Seminar at School day event of Shukutoku Gakuen Junior & Senior High School in Tokyo. Morning session was for Senior High School Students with1,129 in attendance and afternoon session was for Junior High School Students attended to by 552 students with the purpose of leaning about different country’s culture, tradition, history, way of living, people, food, relation with Japan, for their international study as well as deepen friendship with Fiji. Both the sessions started by 30 minutes Buddhism Mass followed by School Principals’ speech. After his speech Mrs. Vocea was introduced and made short greeting speech followed by TCO’s 60 minutes PP presentation on Fiji. The event started 09:30 and finished at 16:00.

Shukutoku Gakuen Senior High School has special class for students who go abroad to study English. U.S.A. England, Australia and New Zealand are present main countries and Mr. Mishima, School Principle interested in nominating Fiji as for studying country in future.

20141203-01

TCO Iki Kawabata and Mrs. Vocea at Shukutoku Gakuen School

Seminar on “Recent Trends in Pacific Regionalism and the Role of Japan”

More than 200 people attended the seminar jointly hosted by the Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund and the Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Tokyo on the topic “Recent Trends in Pacific Regionalism and the Role of Japan”. The seminar was held at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation building on Thursday, 27th November 2014. Turnout exceeded the sitting capacity of the meeting venue and illustrates the importance of the subject matter to the people of Japan. Fourty [40] percent of the attendees were from the Private Sector and the rest were academics, NGOs, students and diplomats. Support from the Pacific Island Embassies in Japan was also evident with four [4] of the Ambassadors including the Dean in attendance. The guest speakers were: Dr Michael O’Keefe, Senior Lecturer, Department if international Studies, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; and Mr Feleti TEO, Secretary General, Pacific Island Development Forum [PIDF], Suva, Fiji.

20141127-01

Turnout at the FET/SPF Seminar

While delivering his opening remarks, Ambassador Isikeli Mataitoga alluded to the subject to be explored in the seminar, in an open and candid exchange of views, the evolving regionalism that is taking place among Pacific Island Countries [PICs] and the role Japan may play within that. PICs are seeking new and more innovative ways to engage new partners in their sustainable development. As they engage in this new process of review, they are asking difficult but often necessary questions about the relevance and effectiveness of existing regional architecture in meeting the development aspirations of the Pacific islands people and communities.

20141127-02

Ambassador Mataitoga delivering his opening remarks

Ambassador Mataitoga further added that Japan has been and continues to be a close and important partner of Pacific Island Countries in achieving their development goals. The principal framework in which Japan engages with PIC is through its development assistance program, delivered through the Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA]. However, existing regional bodies serving PICs have all in recent times undergone review to determine whether they are still true to their mandate to serve the development aspirations of people of the Pacific Island Countries.

The outcome of these reviews, the latest being the Report of the Eminent Persons Group [EPG] on the Review of the Pacific Plan, Chaired by Sir Makere Morauta of PNG, concluded that there is a need for a new regional architecture for PICs; one which is inclusive of all development stakeholders and which addresses real development priorities as decided by the people themselves and not the policy imperatives of overseas development assistance, which sometime is divergent to local needs. Another major factor is that that a new regional architecture is needed due to the tectonic shift in the geopolitical interest shown by major powers of the world in PICs region.

While stressing the point of the need to review the aid delivery mechanism in the Pacific, Ambassador Mataitoga hinted on the recent visit to Fiji by Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Xi Ping of China. This comes after the visit of the Indonesian President in July 2014 and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sergey Lavrov in February 2012. In addition the region have seen high level political leaders from Korea, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Brazil, France etc visiting the region all in the space of last 12-18 months. How do the PICs engage proactively with these developments so that each of the PICs and their people benefit from these engagements? Therefore, it is imperative to find a new regional architecture that would provide the capacity to manage these new developments, and the multilateral goals being pursued by Pacific Small Island Development States [PSIDS] in the various United Nations forums, especially on Climate Change and Adaptation.

It is against this developing regional and geopolitical context that Japan will have to manage its future role. So Japan really needs to project a much higher profile and more intense role in the emerging regional architecture for Pacific Island Countries. It needs to do this because first and foremost, it is in Japan’s security interest, both human and in contributing to a peaceful environment in the Asia-Pacific Region, to so. Japan’s new role should support sustainable development of PICs. As regards the latter, Japan must ensure that its engagement modality is not limited to the traditional approach but it needs to be a more flexible approach to address specific issues of concern for its Pasifika partners. Japan must regularly engage at high political level with PICs in the region to increase its visibility – creating new awareness is necessary for good relations between governments and for people to people exchanges.

The seminar was divided into two parts with session 1 which was moderated by Ambassador Mataitoga dwelled on the topic “Pacific Regionalism and Pacific Island Country Partnership”. Mr Feleti Teo delivered the keynote address and provided an overview of the newest regional institution in the Pacific, the Pacific Island Development Forum [PIDF], key motivations for its establishment; the roles it will play; and its relationship with other regional actors in the ever evolving and dynamic regional architecture in the Pacific. Session 2 was moderated by Dr. Izumi Kobayashi, President of the Japan Pacific Islands Association with the topic of “Towards Enhanced Economic Partnership and the Role of Japan”. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Michale O’Keefe who is an expert in Pacific Regionalism. He articulated on the normative of aid delivery in the Pacific and how aid paradigm has shifted over the years with the new players in the market which depicts that the regional architecture in now under severe pressure to find an alternative solution. A classic example he quoted was Japan which used to be the number 2 donor of aid delivery to the Paicific during periods 1980s-90s. This has relatively declined from year 2000 onwards following the rise of China, Russia, Middle East Countries and now India’s influence in aid and bilateral delivery in the Pacific.

20141127-03

Mr Feleti Teo delivering his keynoted address

The views and exchanges generated from the seminar will no doubt assist relevant policy makers in Japan in their work as they begin to rebuild their engagement policy.

20141127-04

Dr Michael O’Keefe delivering his keynote address

 The PICs are not a homogenous community of nations – they are diverse in terms of their economies, population size, capacity constraints to handle their own development etc. Development partners must tailor their assistance to meet the development needs of the respective peoples concerned: one size does not fit all. New synergies need to be developed with creative financing development models that is beneficial to all and which is based on south-south cooperation. This is not a pipers dream. If we are resolved and focused, we will be able to find the answers to the challenges of ‘smallness’ that PSIDS now face.

As Prime Minister Bainimarama recently stated: Fiji is open for business and extends an invitation to all people of goodwill to invest in Fiji. The Embassy under took this project as it seeks to ‘Push Boundaries in Service Delivery’ through directly engaging with the Japanese private sector representatives, senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of Community Based Organizations, Academia etc. in Japan.

Sincere appreciation on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Japan and the Government of Fiji as a whole to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan for co-sponsoring this seminar. Without their financial and logistical support this seminar would not have eventuated.

Asia Pacific Ladies Friendship Society (APLFS) Cheque Sharing Ceremony 2014

On Friday 13th June 2014, Madame Venina Mataitoga, Spouse of HE Mr Isikeli Mataitoga and Vice Chairperson of the 38th Asia-Pacific Festival and Charity Bazaar – 2014, together with Madame Shoma Jabeen of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, hosted a Cheque Sharing Ceremony at the House of Representatives Members’ Office Building in Nagatacho, Tokyo. In a gigantic ceremony followed by a reception that showcased the one-year activities undertaken, one-hundred forty spouse of Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps in Tokyo from the 22-member countries and Japanese volunteers celebrated the job well done and cheque sharing ceremony.

Founded in 1971, today, ALFS counts for 26 member countries and a general membership of about 300. ALFS President, Mrs Haruko Komura opened the ceremony by thanking everyone that participated and assisted in the 38th Asia-Pacific Festival and Charity Bazaar – 2014, noting that this year`s event was a great success with proceeds collected to be utilized to support disadvantaged women and children in the Asia-Pacific region. Mrs Komura strongly stressed that “the proceeds is a fruit of our effort and cooperation”, and further urged everyone for their continuous support and cooperation towards ALFS and its activities.

Vice Chairperson Madame Venina Mataitoga followed by thanking ALFS President and Board of Directors for their assistance and support, as well as the Madams, donors and volunteers for their effort and unwavering commitment towards ALFS, also hoping that the Society will continue to grow and become a powerful body impacting lives of women and children who are disadvantaged and suffering in the Asia – Pacific Region.

The two-hour event also saw President Komura presenting gifts of appreciation to Madame Shoma Jabeen and Madame Venina Mataitoga, later followed with the introduction of new Chairperson Madame Momoe Fritz and Vice Chairperson Madame Wan Wang by Madame Jabeen, as well as slideshows of the one-year activities that have been undertaken. Madame Shim Lee of Korea also said a few words prior to her departure this week.

Guests later enjoyed a light reception of finger foods and confectionery from the Bangladesh and Fiji Embassies. It was a pleasant event enjoyed by everyone who attended. Madame Mataitoga was accompanied by SS Savu, FAO Aoki, PA Tabuyaqona and TCO Kawabata.

20140616_1

Madame Mataitoga, President Komura and Madama Jabeen of Bangladesh

20140616_1

Madame Mataitoga with FET Ladies, Yuko, Kelera & Sereana during the ceremony

Tamasei International Day at Tokyo Baptist Church

On Wednesday 14 May, a group of 150 children and teachers from Tamagawa Seigakuin Junior High School visited the Tokyo Baptist Church for the purpose of international exchanges, use their English as a tool of communication, as well as see Christianity in its worldwide glory. Representatives from 15 different countries joined hands with Tokyo Baptist Church members and former students, sharing their home country’s culture to the third grade students. The occasion was a good opportunity for staff members and families of the Fiji Embassy to show case Fiji made products as well as their cultural activities not only to the students of Tamagawa Seigakuin Junior High School, but to all those that visited the Fiji booth.

Mrs. Tabuyaqona and Mrs. Vocea explaining about Fijian traditional items

TCO Iki Kawabata giving general information about Fiji

Embassy Visit: Aoyama Junior High School

On Monday 12 May 2014, a group of 13 (thirteen) students from Aoyama Junior High School in Minato-ward, Tokyo visited the Fiji Embassy to study about Fiji as part of their international studies. They were welcomed by Tourism and Commercial Officer Iki Kawabata who at the same time delivered a 60 minutes lectures covering overview of Fiji`s culture, history, nature, custom, industry, food, way of living and tourism.

Prior to their visit to the Fiji Embassy, the group had sent in questionnaires about Fiji’s way of living, traditional fashion, indigenous Food, relation with Japan, and Fijian language and the lecture that was given was able to address their enquiries about Fiji.

TCO Iki Kawabata making lecture for Aoyama Junior High School students at the Fiji Embassy

Students from Aoyama Junior High School at the Fiji Embassy

Leadership Training for Youth in Japan

Nine government representatives who will be part of a youth leadership and good governance training programme in Japan have been reminded to work as a team to maximize benefits of learning. Public Service Commission permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand said this training opportunity provided by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would help the participants excel in their area of work as youths who are seen as future leaders of Fiji. This is the first year that a delegation is being sent to participate in a course on good governance and leadership.

“The Fijian Government is thankful to the Japanese Government in providing such opportunity to our youth who are seen as future leaders of Fiji,” Mr Chand said. “Since the inception of training young leaders in 2007, 100 Fijians had benefitted from this program.” Mr Chand said Fiji has in many ways benefitted from the JICA programme. “Apart from capacity building (Human resources), JICA also contributes towards rural community development, sending volunteers to selected key public sectors, and providing assistance and resources to other sectors of the community at large,” he said.

Resident Representative of JICA, Shumon Yoshira said the purpose of the young leaders training programme was to promote human resource development in the country. “The name “young leaders” itself reflects the importance of fostering leadership, goodwill and unity among the youths of different culture and backgrounds with the hope that the world will be made a better place to live in through the collective and constructive efforts of the youths of today,” Mr Yoshira said.

The participants will be leaving Fiji on 19th May for the one week training programme.

Fiji participants with PSC Permanent Secretary, Mr Parmesh Chand and JICA Resident Representative in Fiji, Mr Shumon Yoshiara

Embassy Visit: Shutoku Junior High School

On Wednesday 30th April 2014, a group of 9 (Nine) students and a teacher from Shutoku Junior High School in Katsushika-ward, Tokyo visited the Fiji Embassy to study about Fiji as part of their international studies. They were welcomed by Trade and Commercial Officer Iki Kawabata who at the same time delivered a 60 minutes lectures covering overview of Fiji`s culture, history, nature, custom, industry, food, way of living and tourism.

TCO Iki Kawabata making lecture for Shutoku Junior High School students at the Fiji Embassy

Students and teacher from Shutoku Junior High School at the Fiji Embassy