[Photo: File]

Fiji’s shortage of skilled workers and the loss of personnel from the public and private sectors could become a major challenge in delivering projects under the new Fiji- Australia partnership.

Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Goundar said Fiji was facing a major capacity constraint across the board.

He states that the government will need technical expertise and hands-on implementation support if it is to deliver the major projects linked to the treaty.

“Given also that we have a huge Australian private sector in Fiji and the existing relationships and support that we get from Australia with the existing private sector and the multilateral institutions and other international organizations, that’s all going to be very helpful in terms of deliverables on the ground and implementation.”

Goundar said the challenge was particularly serious because the partnership involves large investments in infrastructure, health, digital development and climate resilience.

He also pointed out that Australia’s experience in supporting major development projects, including school reconstruction in Vanuatu and medical infrastructure, could provide useful technical support for Fiji.

Goundar said Australian private sector involvement, multilateral institutions and other international partners can also help strengthen Fiji’s ability to deliver projects on the ground.

The support, he said should not be limited to funding, with technical capacity and implementation know-how also critical to achieving results.

The Finance Ministry has identified almost $90 million for skills development under the indicative financing breakdown.

Goundar said strengthening Fiji’s capacity was essential because the private sector will ultimately have to play a major role in driving economic growth and creating jobs.

He adds that the government’s role is to provide the infrastructure and enabling environment needed for businesses to expand.

The team appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to make submissions on the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance or the Veitacini Treaty