Countries and Regions

	Table of Contents
p. 9 of 14 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Republic of the Fiji Islands

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IV. Regional Economic Cooperation

33. Fiji Islands’ priorities for regional economic cooperation are in: (i) building trading relationships within and with trade blocks outside the region; (ii) cooperative arrangements in aviation and shipping; and (iii) coordinated policies and approaches to the management of natural resources. Fiji Islands is an active member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group of countries. It benefits from regional and international preferential trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand under the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA), and the Lomé Agreement with the European Union. Fiji Islands is also a member and beneficiary of all the major regional organizations including the Forum, Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC), Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), the South Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the University of the South Pacific (USP).

34. The ADB is involved with the Forum Secretariat and other regional agencies in a variety of regional activities. The ADB is currently providing a regional technical assistance (RETA) through FFA to support the negotiation of a regional tuna management plan, and for fiscal management and policy advice provided through PFTAC. In the coming three years, the ADB plans to provide RETAs for: (i) analysis of financial sector issues and strategies for selected PDMCs; (ii) judicial training in collaboration with UNDP; and (iii) more effective and sustainable coastal fisheries management. Fiji Islands is expected to actively participate in all these RETAs.

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