RI Donates 3.5 Million Dollars To Fiji To Help Post-Stop Rehabilitation Winston

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the International Development Cooperation Fund Institute (LDKPI) distributed assistance totaling US$3.5 million to the Fiji Government to assist in the rehabilitation process after Typhoon Winston some time ago.

Head of the Legal and Institutional Relations Division of LDKPI, Azhar Basyir, said the funds were mainly used to build the Queen Victoria School (QVS) which had recently been inaugurated.

"The construction of QVS schools has received full support from the Indonesian Government through the Indonesian AID program," he said in an official statement, Thursday, August 10.

Azhar explained that the support of the Indonesian government was provided in two stages including the repair of two dormitory buildings and the repair of sixteen classrooms.

"This support is part of a total commitment to increase development cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of education by 10 million US dollars," he said.

Azhar added that this development collaboration is one of the efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs Goal #4) in the field of education as well as a manifestation of the bilateral relationship and close friendship between the two countries since the opening of the Indonesian Embassy in Suva in 2002. Meanwhile, the school inauguration ceremony was held last week.

On the same occasion, Fiji Education Minister Aseri Radrodro revealed that as a form of accountability, Fiji ensured that the investment of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia must be managed properly and used by students to learn to achieve the future.

"Education is the foundation of a nation," he said.

Minister Aseri said QVS is one of the best schools in Fiji that has given birth to many important figures in Fiji.

This school is intended for the children of leaders and tribal chiefs in the country, and is expected to produce prospective Fiji leaders in the future. The collaboration between the Fiji Government and the Government of Indonesia is expected to increase in the future in other sectors," he stressed.