Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honour and pleasure to be here this morning, to celebrate with you in this ceremony that witnesses the handover of keys from contractor to the University following completion of phase 1 of construction works. In addition to the grant of 75 million Japanese yen equivalent to 1.4 million Fijian dollars for detail design study undertaken on the feasibility of the new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at the University of the South Pacific, Japan donated 2.2 billion Japanese yen which is equivalent to 41.5 million Fijian dollars for Phase 1 work of this project which includes two buildings, with facilities consisting of computer laboratories and conference rooms with provision of specialised equipment.

I take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders of this project particularly, the Japanese consultant, Azusa Sekkei Company Limited and the contractor, Konoike Construction Company Limited, for the outstanding workmanship displayed in front of us today.

I also wish to call your attention to the fact that, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with key stakeholders of USP, has commenced a three year Technical Cooperation Project for the ICT for human development and human security in February 2010, and I am confident that with necessary trainings and expertise, the JICA’s Technical Cooperation and Japan-Pacific ICT Centre will become another meaningful model project of cooperation between Japan and twelve USP member countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now in the process of awarding another tender worth approximately 857 million Japanese yen and equivalent to 16.1 million Fijian dollars for phase two works on the construction of the multi-purpose lecture theatre, and work on this should commence as early as June this year.

Ladies and gentlemen, with these few words let us witness together the handing over of keys of this state of the art ICT facility from the contractor to the University and remain hopeful that work on phase two front begins promptly in due course.  

Thank you.