A visa free agreement has been signed between the Governments of Fiji and Croatia.

In a signing ceremony yesterday hosted at the High Commission of Fiji in Canberra, Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, Luke Daunivalu signed the agreement on behalf of the Fijian Government together with Croatia’s Ambassador to Australia, Betty Bernardica Pavelich Sirois.

The agreement allows Fijians and Croatian nationals to travel, transit through or stay in both Fiji and Croatia territories without a visa for up to three months.

With formal diplomatic relations having been established between the two countries in 1997, the visa waiver agreement introduces a much-needed mechanism to strengthen relations between Fiji and Croatia.

The reciprocal visa arrangement will, amongst other things, benefit Fiji in the areas of socioeconomic development, investment, tourism and educational partnerships.

Both Ambassadors agreed that the signing is an important step towards exploring and strengthening of cooperation in economic, cultural exchanges and sports such as soccer and rugby, as well as tourism.