The Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Development Forum Mr Penijamini Lomaloma this afternoon received the visiting Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Fiji His Excellency Sayyid Nazar bin Al-Julandi bin Ajed Al-Said, at the PIDF Secretariat in Nasese, Suva.
In welcoming His Excellency, Mr Lomaloma explained the unique role the PIDF has in the region in bringing about transformative changes through a development pathway that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Mr Lomaloma also briefed the Ambassador on the PIDFs major priorities as mandated by the Leaders of the Pacific and the development of the PIDF’s long term institutional arrangements.
In his remarks Ambassador Ajed Al-Said thanked the PIDF for the opportunity to exchange information and expressed a readiness to explore areas of collaboration between the two parties. He highlighted especially the special challenges posed by young people today and offered to assist the PIDF in this area. He noted some of the projects that are being developed with his region such as water access which Oman is very familiar with. He offered to assist the PIDF develop appropriate linkages and receive the appropriate information with regards to developments in Oman that will assist the organization in its work.Speaking after the meeting Mr Lomaloma said,
“PIDF firmly believes that national efforts by Pacific Countries to transition to an inclusive green economy must be complemented by an enabling international environment aimed at expanding the development opportunities of the Pacific. I am glad that discussions this afternoon with the Ambassador of Oman could focus on some of these opportunities especially with regards to our youth.”