Press Releases

» Japan Provides Assistance to Media Organisation

The Government of Japan has provided funding of US$46,055.00 (approx. F$76,300.00) to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited (FBCL) through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme. The funds have been used to purchase and install two new generators and automatic changeover switchboard at the transmission stations of the FBCL in Rakiraki and Labasa, respectively.

The Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Kenji Miyata, will officially handover the new generators to the representative of FBCL at Rakiraki Transmission Station on 28th April 2006 at 11:00 a.m.

Japan’s assistance follows the request made by the FBCL based on the reason that power failures in the Rakiraki and Labasa sites have caused disruption in the broadcasting services provided by the FBCL to the outer islands and remote areas. For the people in outer island and remote area, it is crucial to receive reliable broadcasting services, particularly in case of emergencies such as natural disasters. The main objective of the funding is to provide standby power supply for the Radio Fiji 1 and Radio Fiji 2 broadcasting stations which serves the interior and outer island areas, particularly for the purposes of broadcasting news and weather reports in the event of any natural disaster. The project is estimated to benefit around 200,000 people.

Japan’s assistance to these projects indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of people in Fiji Islands and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level. The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training, sanitary environment and rural infrastructure. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Fiji Islands and Japan.