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Canada-Fiji relations

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Bilateral relations

The Republic of Fiji is a group of over 330 islands in the Pacific subregion of Melanesia. Fiji’s population of 929,000 is multicultural and multi-ethnic. Fiji's official languages are English, iTaukei, and Hindustani (also known as Fiji Hindi).

Canada and Fiji established diplomatic relations on October 10, 1970. The High Commission of Canada in New Zealand represents Canada’s interests in Fiji, but since October 2022, Canada has had a resident-diplomat co-located in the Australian High Commission, while processes are underway to open a full diplomatic mission in the capital city of Suva. There is also a Canadian Honorary Consul in Suva. Fiji is represented in Canada by its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, who is also accredited as High Commissioner to Canada, and by an Honorary Consul in British Columbia. About 24,710 people who live in Canada were born in Fiji according to the 2021 Canadian census.

Canada and Fiji have warm and long-standing bilateral relations, including through the Commonwealth. Canada and Fiji have shared interests in a range of issues such as climate action, oceans management, inclusive growth, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Trade relations

The Trade Commissioner Service (New Zealand) manages Canada's trade relations with Fiji. In 2022, two-way trade was $16.7 million. Exports to Fiji were $8.4 million in 2022 and were predominantly machinery parts, edible preparations of fish, and coin (other than gold coin). Imports from Fiji were $8.3 million in 2022 and were primarily beverages, vegetable and wood products. Canada has had an Air Transport Agreement in force with Fiji since 1974. Tourism, sugar and fisheries are the primary economic activities in Fiji. Canada’s main foreign direct investment in Fiji is in the mining industry.

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Development

Canada supports small and community-focused projects in Fiji through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canada has contributed over $1.36 million to organizations implementing CFLI in Fiji since 2012 through the implementation of 34 projects.

Fiji has also been a beneficiary of the following projects in the Pacific islands region:

The Kiwa Initiative (2020 to 2026) is a $79 million multi-donor Pan-Pacific regional initiative funded by Canada, France, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Since March 2020, Canada has contributed a total of $16 million to the Kiwa initiative through a Contribution Arrangement with l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The Kiwa initiative strengthens capacities of local and national authorities and civil society organizations to design and implement small to large-scale biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation projects at local, national and regional levels through granting/funding facilities.

The Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF) (2018 to 2025) is a demand-driven $11.6 million technical assistance facility designed to support poverty reduction and women’s empowerment.

The Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (2019 to 2024) is a $13.9 million project that supports women entrepreneurs. It aims to address the particular challenges that women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises face in growing their businesses, including access to finance and new technologies.

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) (2021 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and to which Canada contributed $9.5 million. It aims to support Pacific Small Island Developing States and others in securing and structuring finance for priority climate projects by cultivating a network of highly trained, embedded climate finance advisors.

The Reducing Covid-19-Related Food Insecurity in the Pacific Region (2021 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and to which Canada contributed $3.65 million. It aims to enable the regional Pacific Food Security Cluster to strengthen regional and national capacities. The project also supports COVID-19 impact assessments for gender-sensitive agriculture and food systems and builds resiliency.

Through UN Women (2018 to 2023), Canada provided $3.85 million to implement the Pacific Islands Markets for Change Project which supports female merchants in rural and urban markets by ensuring that markets provide safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory environments.

The Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries in the Pacific Islands (2020 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and to which Canada contributed $2 million. It aims to increase the resilience and adaptability of fishermen and fisherwomen to the climate changes affecting their livelihoods and food security, in the vulnerable coastal communities.

The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) (2018 to 2023) is a project implemented by the World Bank, and to which Canada contributed $1.5 million. The PCRAFI seeks to provide the Pacific island countries with disaster risk assessment and financing tools, including sovereign insurance, for enhanced disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Special Requirements Fund has received contributions of $68,000 to $100,000 from Canada in recent years. It aims to support capacity-building among the members of the Commission such as Fiji.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Fiji work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

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