His Excellency, Ambassador Mohammad Kurniadi Koma; Charge d’Affaires,
Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York
Fellow Esteemed Ministers and Respective Directors
Ladies and Gentleman
Bula Vinaka from Fiji.
Due to the time difference and Parliamentary commitments I have not been able to join you virtually. However, I wish I was there in person to deliver this important Ministerial statement.
Colleagues,
The 76th United Nations General Assembly, which opened on 21 September, has an appropriate theme, “Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations”.
And today’s High-level Ministerial, hosted by Indonesia is aptly premised on this theme of “Resilient and Inclusive Creative Economy for a Thriving Future”.
Creative economy, which is built on “knowledge-based economic activities”, is a stepping stone towards re-engineering growth.
In the current times, no nation is spared from the mayhem of the COVID-19 pandemic. Decades of economic growth have spiraled downwards, whilst every industry holding comparative advantage has deterred from its course.
We are at now rebuilding. Not only do we need to rehabilitate key industries, but reconfigure our efforts and resources towards areas with potential.
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiji, too, has not been exempt from the impacts of COVID-19. Before being relentlessly pummeled by the pandemic, Fiji exhibited an average of 3.2% consecutive growth for an entire decade. However, with the strike of the first wave in early 2020, the Fijian economy declined by 15.7 percent.
In April this year, Fiji was hit by the second wave of the pandemic, where our economy is forecasted to contract by 4.1 percent in 2021.
Like they say, with every crisis comes opportunities, these challenges have doubly strengthened our resolve to rebuild better and stronger — rebuild a resilient and robust economy, which will rise to its full potential.
In collaboration with our international partners, private sector and other stakeholders, we have been able to successfully mitigate the spread, and open businesses in a COVID-safe manner. And just 5 months since the second wave, Fiji is preparing to open its international borders.
Colleagues,
Small Island Developing States (SIDS), like Fiji and many of us in the Pacific, can very easily be brought to our knees — not only by pandemics, but the ever present threat of climate change.
The Pacific Island Countries make up the “smallest” economies in the world. We are the most isolated from our key markets. Connectivity remains a growing concern.
Colleagues,
Our resilience and long term sustainability is dependent on our ability to adapt and recreate our economies.
In this regard, the Fijian Government, through our 2021-2022 National Budget, has implemented initiatives and programmes with specific focus on a “creative economy”.
These unprecedented times reconfirm our economic base needs to be broadened with ICT and knowledge-based industries at the core.
Fijian businesses have learnt to adapt and pivot to online trading and digital payment platforms. However, many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face difficulties due to the onerous requirements and prohibitive costs imposed by financial institutions.
To help MSMEs build greater resilience and to jump-start the e-commerce sector, the Fijian Government with the central bank and the private sector, will work to bring our MSMEs online.
Excellences and Colleagues,
Governments of SIDS alone cannot achieve the desired results. It takes broad partnership to modernise MSMEs and help them diversify into knowledge-based economic activities.
We need support and sustainable collaboration to build capacity for the adoption of digital commerce platforms which will lower costs and enhance competitiveness.
Thus, we need quality investments, including in infrastructure and appropriate technologies.
Colleagues,
This platform serves to reach out to the global community as technical and financial support to SIDS is vital to elevate our economies.
Support is needed to enhance research and development and the integration of SIDs into new and innovative industries. We need access to cutting edge technology. We need to develop knowledge and expertise. We need to create an environment to continue growing and developing in a sustainable manner.
Excellences and Colleagues,
It is an important test to the international community of how it treats its vulnerable members or the SIDS. The special challenges and inherent vulnerability that we face must be taken into account in strategies for trade and development.
For the SIDS to stay afloat and survive, we must re-innovate, re-strategise, re-position our priorities for the benefit of all.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you very much.