LINKING RESEARCH AND POLICY
The following is Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Mahendra Reddy’s address during the Pacific Update Conference at the Japan Pacific ICT Lecture Theatre, USP on June 20, 2017.
USP Acting Vice Chancellor (Research & International): Professor Derrick Armstrong; Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS); Mr Winston Thompson, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of USP Council; Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corps; Representatives of the University’s main Development Partners; Members of the Regional and International Organizations; Senior Fijian Government Officials; Members of the University Council; Members of the Senior Management Team, Staff and students of the University of the South Pacific; Distinguished Guests; and Ladies and Gentlemen.Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Good Morning and Warm Greetings to you all.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is foremost my pleasure to offer my warm, heartfelt welcome to you all to Fiji. I bring along our Prime Minister, Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama’s special words of appreciation of your presence and invite you all to enjoy the Fijian hospitality during your visit. I, at this juncture applaud the efforts of the partners to this Conference, the Asian Development Bank, Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre and our very own regional University of the South Pacific’s School of Economics. From the first forum which started off in 2012, this conference has grown in stature, size and quality and I extend my commendation to successful partnerships who have worked to take this highly successful event to where it is today. Ladies and gentlemen, the Pacific Update conference is a vital forum for discussing important issues of public policy in the region. The concerted deliberations through the gathering of policy makers, academics, researchers, private sector and public sector progress partners, business people and other development practitioners adds to the prestige of this conference. It is an excellent example of the link between research and policy thus, contributing to better use of research findings for the ultimate benefit of the society. I have also been given to understand through the programme that this year in particular those students who are in their final phase of research work on Pacific Island States will also be given the opportunity to be part of this conference. The engagement of “these young budding researchers” is a good investment as they will be at the forefront of knowledge creation in the future. Thus, this is another major long term contribution from this conference.
The Pacific
Ladies and gentlemen, we have more than 11 million people in the Pacific who add on to the earth’s population. We even have 12 island nations who are members of the World Bank. We have some of the world’s most unique environments including the Pacific being the ‘tuna hub’ of the world. Our rich culture and traditions has been the jewel of the Pacific and which is marvelled by all globally. The friendliness and caring attitude of the Pacific people has given us the tag ‘Pacific Way’. We pride ourselves on our food and hospitality. Pacific Island nations are also making their mark internationally in other areas such as, sports and recreation.
However, ladies and gentlemen, not everything is as rosy as we may see from the outside. Despite the above, some very unique features, our per capita income growth rates have not kept up with population growth rates thus, contributing to growing inequality and hardships. Urban centred growth rates have benefited the elites and excluded the rural and maritime population from participating in the growth process thus, depriving them from benefiting from the urban centred growth process. This has contributed to the increased urban to rural movement.
Pacific Island countries also withstand major issues and scenarios which are affecting the overall growth and expansion aims. Issues such as ‘loss of skilled labour’, rise in NonCommunicable Disease, greater vulnerability from natural disasters, exploitation of natural resources, and more recently climate change has slowly but surely extended its grip on Pacific nations. The Pacific at present to a wider extent can be deemed the ‘breathing laboratory’ for studies in climate change with many of our islands succumbing to the effects of sea level rise.
Focus
Therefore, conferences of this nature which seeks to evaluate policies and research aimed at countering Pacific Island issues is highly instrumental. Ladies and gentlemen, I understand that the two day conference will focus in particular on three areas. The first one on enhancing connectivity in areas such as regionalism, co-operation, trade, infrastructure and ICT is exceptionally valuable.
Pacific Island nation’s limitations in connectedness are particularly attributed to the vast swath of the Pacific Ocean. As such, all our efforts have to be united towards greater networking and through regular interactions and blending.
The second focus area has targeted labour mobility, job creation and labour market developments in the Pacific region. Again the importance of this area is indispensable. Our growing economies continuously need to tap into new and transitioned job skills set of our people to meet the growing demands of diverse forms of labour. One such area is the issue of labour supply and demand in the field of Science and Technology in the Pacific. The other is the constant migration of our experts and qualified people for ‘greener pastures’. One area that I am proud the Fijian Government is relentlessly pursuing is making education and training accessible to all the people pursuing various job markets and which is envisioned to create labour sustainability for current key job sectors in years to come.
The third key focus of this Conference: “Sustainable Development – Exploring the meaning of Blue-Green Growth” is extremely fitting, especially, given the giant strides our nation Fiji has taken to advocate for environment sustainability and preservation of the natural environment including our oceans and spearheading the global campaign against climate change. Our Honourable Prime Minister of Fiji has stood tall amidst the global giants in ensuring that the Pacific call and voice is heard. Fiji’s input towards the COP 23 Agenda and the United Nations Oceans Conference is there for all to see.
Prime Minister Bainimarama has made a collective call on the world to take action to preserve our planet and I am sure this echoes the feelings and sentiments of majority of humans, including our regional friends. The call in particular chartered a course for countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular Goal 14: conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
Green-Blue growth
Ladies and gentlemen, blue-green growth must be a mandatory priority for every nation and every global citizen. It is the path of economic growth which is through the utilisation of natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Through the GREEN movement, countries focus on ‘green economy’, renewable energy sources, green construction, clean transportation, environment, green technologies and green land management, food sustainability, forestry and green tourism, green industries amongst other similar environment friendly initiatives and programs. Through the BLUE growth, nations focus upon the economic potential of oceans, seas and coastal areas through sustainable practices. Blue growth relates to blue energy, aquaculture, marine and coastal tourism, marine biotechnology, marine protected areas and other similar topics relating to blue economy.
Global limelight
Ladies and gentlemen, like I stated earlier, Pacific Island nations have been in the global limelight recently through our sustained calls for sustainable development and this Conference could not have come at a better time. There are no qualms in agreeing that Pacific Island people are extremely close to their land and sea. From relying on nature for food and water, we in the Pacific have orchestrated various means and ways to earn money from the gift of nature. Now it is our turn to give back to nature what it is has fed us with since our existence. Ladies and gentlemen, the gathering today affirms the commitment that you all and your organisations have towards the development and progress of the Pacific. The dissemination of important research findings on contemporary economic, social and political issues will certainly create the ‘think tank’ which offers valuable foresight and ideas for emerging Pacific matters and issues. I am also certainly looking forward to the outcome of these presentations and deliberations.
Ladies and gentlemen, the University of the South Pacific’s contribution to education in Fiji and the region has been enormous. The collaborative effort of such esteemed organisations and groups lays the foundation for the ‘game changer’ education dosage which we very critically need in our region.
I leave you all with the words of our Hon. Prime Minister, who at the ACP high level breakfast meeting on “Unlocking the potential of blue economy for the sustainable development of SIDS” summed that, “While Pacific Nations rightly identify ourselves as stewards of the ocean in our own part of the world, we cannot save our waters on our own, and nor can the nations of the Caribbean or Coastal nations of Africa. A collective Global effort is required”. The Conference today is reminiscent to that ‘collective effort’ that is fore sought by Mr Bainimarama.
I wish you highly worthwhile and enriching knowledge enhancement experiences. Enjoy our Fijian care and take pure cherished memories. Thank You and