Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka received a courtesy visit on Monday from Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Seet-Cheng, at his office in Suva.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka warmly welcomed Her Excellency and acknowledged that her visit reflects the strong and enduring ties between Fiji and Singapore.
He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through sustained engagement and cooperation.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Singapore for their generous hospitality during his recent official visit from 22–23 April 2025.
The visit was made at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong following the CHOGM meeting. He noted that this second official visit further reaffirmed the growing bilateral cooperation between Fiji and Singapore, particularly in key strategic areas such as trade, climate resilience, digital transformation, and public sector innovation.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that, as part of his discussions with Prime Minister Wong, he had shared Fiji’s aspiration to become a premier transshipment and logistics hub for the Pacific, inspired by Singapore’s own success.
He said Fiji’s strategic geographical location makes it a natural gateway between Pacific Island Countries and other parts of the world.
To advance this vision, the Fijian Government is planning to build a super port facility in Suva—a major infrastructure development that will significantly enhance Fiji’s strategic position and status in the region.
Prime Minister Rabuka further noted that Fiji and Singapore share a strong commitment to multilateral efforts in combating climate change and resilience-building.
He described climate change as an existential threat common to both nations.
As maritime countries, he expressed his anticipation for continued partnership on ocean governance, environmental protection, and the conservation of marine resources.
The Prime Minister also shared updates on the broader redevelopment of Fiji’s aging port infrastructure, which has remained largely unchanged for the past 30 to 40 years.
The redevelopment plan includes upgrading port terminals, establishing an industrial zone adjacent to the port, and reclaiming foreshore land to construct a modern container port—initiatives aimed at enhancing trade and strengthening economic resilience.
He also highlighted the development of a shipbuilding and repair facility in Lautoka, in partnership with Australia, which will serve as a regional hub for the maintenance and repair of patrol boats used by Fiji and neighboring Pacific Island countries.
The Prime Minister further spoke about his Ocean of Peace initiative, which calls for greater regional unity and cooperation to ensure the Pacific remains a zone of peace, stability, and sustainable development.
He stressed the importance of mutual respect and collaboration among Pacific nations and global partners to safeguard oceanic resources, promote peace, and protect the region from geopolitical competition.
Her Excellency Mrs. Seet-Cheng conveyed her sincere gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for his kind sentiments and thanked him warmly for the opportunity to meet with her.
She also reflected on the longstanding presence of Singaporean investment in Fiji, noting that in the 1980s, the Singaporean hotel group Shangri-La established the Shangri-La Yanuca Island Resort, which remains a successful model of tourism development.
Her Excellency added that Singapore continues to have world-class hotel investors, with one recently investing in Tahiti, and expressed optimism that similar investments could contribute to Fiji’s tourism growth, particularly in Vanua Levu.
