VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian  Ambassador to Fiji, Dupito D. Simamora, symbolically handed over a grant of USD  25,000  to the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka at the Fiji Prime Minister's Office on Thursday ( 18/1). The grant is  to support the Bula coffee  project in Fiji. The Indonesian Embassy  in Suva, as quoted on its website, stated that agriculture has become an important development priority for Indonesia, Fiji and the Pacific region. According to the Indonesian Embassy, as one of the largest coffee producing countries, Indonesia is very suitable to be Fiji's partner in developing its coffee industry to meet domestic demand and support its growing tourism industry. The Bula Coffee project, originally proposed by the Fiji Prime Minister's Office, aims at equipping approximately 10,000 residents of 41 villages in the Sigatoka region with the knowledge and skills needed for coffee cultivation and processing. The Indonesian Embassy in Suva said that this project also aims to empower rural communities in Fiji through sustainable coffee cultivation. As a follow-up, Indonesia and Fiji will conduct a consultation and training program which is scheduled to be implemented in the first quarter of 2024. This program will provide further training and capacity building to Bula Coffee project participants, to ensure long-term sustainability and guarantee success of their coffee farming business. Ambassador Dupito has  conveyed that Indonesia is happy to support the Bula Coffee project. According to him, this project empowers Fiji in the agricultural sector. At the same time, it also build rural development, food security, alternative development and livelihoods for people at the grassroots level. Ambassador Dupito also pointed out that Indonesia and Fiji are also building a Regional Agricultural Training Center and Demonstration Farm in Rakiraki this year. According to him, this collaboration is an important marker in relations between the two countries. Indonesia and Fiji this year celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. Dupito claims, with this collaboration Indonesia is showing a very significant commitment to helping increase agricultural resilience. This momentum is an opportunity for the two countries to partner and help the region achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and the Blue Pacific Strategy by 2050. Moreover, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka appreciated the grant and the cooperation that has existed between Indonesia and Fiji. According to him, Indonesia’s grant is an important step to achieve Fiji's development goals. The Prime Minister also said  that the grants will empower rural communities, promote sustainable agriculture, address excessive imports and contribute to poverty reduction in Fiji. The Bula Coffee Project is an initiative led by the Government of Fiji, with support from international partners, to empower rural communities by promoting sustainable coffee cultivation and processing. The project aims at equipping residents with the knowledge and resources needed to improve their agricultural capabilities, improve livelihoods and contribute to economic development in Fiji.