Taiwan/Republic of China hands over assistance to CROP agencies

Several agencies of the Council of the Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) will benefit from US$500,000 out of the Taiwan/ROC Regional Development Assistance Fund for 2011/2012. The Representative of Taiwan in Fiji, Mr Ming Chang handed over the assistance to representatives of the CROP agencies during a brief ceremony hosted by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade at the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji on 28th June. Speaking at the ceremony, Forum Secretary General, Mr Slade thanked Mr Ming Chang for his Government’s continued support to the region as the funds have assisted in the successful implementation of regional development projects. “CROP agencies fully appreciate this annual contribution which is a reflection of the Taiwan/ROC’s commitment to the Pacific region,” Mr Slade said. He explained: “The funds received today will support the implementation of regional projects in areas of education and capacity building, regional aviation safety, fisheries, marine and water management, and the Smaller Island States (SIS) programmes.” The assistance to the CROP agencies will support programmes and activities implemented by the Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (PIFFA), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Power Association (PPA), Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP), South Pacific Board of Educational Assessment/Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPBEA/SPC), and the University of the South Pacific (USP). This contribution from the Taiwan/ROC Regional Development Assistance Fund comes after another US$500,000 was given to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat earlier this year to support the 2012/2013 Taiwan/ROC – Forum Scholarship Scheme, bringing their total assistance to the region to US$ 1 million. ENDS. For media enquiries contact Mr Eferemo Kubunavanua, the Forum Secretariat’s Research Assistant, Development Cooperation on phone: 679 331 2600 or email: eferemok@forumsec.org.fj