Mataitoga’s dedication to strengthen Fiji-Japan relations
Making Fiji visible in the East Asian Zone and the rest of the world was Fiji’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga’s job for over 12 years.
For the former Director of Public Prosecutions of Fiji, it also meant further strengthening high level governance relationships.
Based at the Fiji Embassy Tokyo (FTE), he and his staff coordinated Fiji’s participation at various bilateral platforms, including those at the host country and accredited countries.
“We coordinated Fiji’s participation at the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9), held in the form of videoconference on 2nd July 2021.
“We also coordinated the Team Fiji participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, from 9 July to 10 August 2021, and the Team Fiji participation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, from 21 August 2021 to 5 September 2021.”
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second half of the year tasked FET with the immense responsibility to relook at re-strategising its scope of work and deliverables.
“As a result, FET, in consultation with Investment Fiji, developed a Market Plan for Japan with the primary objective to identify existing and new products which make up the export bundle and, in the near future, can push growth in Fiji’s export and investment share.
“The Fiji - Japan Investment & Trade Mission 2021, including Fiji - Japan Investment Symposium, Fiji - Japan Investment Webinar, Fiji - Japan Trade Expo, and Fiji - Japan Trade Webinar, were coordinated and implemented.
FET secured critical assistance and support through our counterparts, particularly our honorary consulates.
“As one example, our Honorary Consulate in Manila helped facilitate Fijians stranded in the Philippines; and our Honorary Consulate in Beppu helped facilitate Fijian’s students’ visa facilitation with the concerned University.
“We will harness our network to deliver outcomes that matter for Fiji’s national interest and its people—working collaboratively to make greater use of virtual tools to manage the challenges of COVID-19.
“In outlining the various presentations that we participated in from Tokyo, it can be said that we will build on the lessons learned from COVID-19.
As Head of the Mission, he was proud of their accomplishments, and acknowledged God’s grace in these achievements.
“I concede His wisdom and guiding hands have strengthened the team to withstand all that came our way.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honorable Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, and all executive and support staff at the Ministry’s HQ for their assistance towards FET.