REMARKS: Deputy Secretary General, Esala Nayasi, at Official handing over of Weight Sets

•    Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Government of the Republic of Fiji, Mr. Shaheen Ali
•    The Acting High Commissioner of Tuvalu, Mr. Sumeo Silu
•    The Trade Officer for the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Government of Niue, Mr. Aytron Tatui,
•    Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen
•    Bula Vinaka and good morning to you all.

•    I am honoured to join you today for the official handover of the test weight sets, generously donated the Department of National Trade, Measurement, and Standards, under Fiji’s Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises.
•    These sets will be instrumental for Metrology Inspectors in Niue and Tuvalu, enabling them to calibrate weighing scales and other equipment with precision. 
•    This support is vital for improving the accuracy of trade measurements, and to enhance confidence in trade transactions
•    I acknowledge the leadership and steadfast support of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Shaheen Ali, who continues to be an advocate for regional collaboration in advancing quality infrastructure. 
•    I am also pleased to confirm that with financial support from the EU- funded SPIRIT Project, the sets will be shipped without delay, to support the operational needs of metrology institutions in Niue and Tuvalu, and to reinforce our shared vision of a stronger, more integrated Regional Quality Infrastructure.
•    The Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative, implemented by PIFS under the umbrella of the Pacific-Aid-for-Trade-Strategy, aims to enhance regional capacity in standards, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment. 
•    This initiative is pivotal for facilitating trade and safeguarding public interest. Fiji confirms its central role in this Initiative, not only through this important donation but also by agreeing to host the Pacific Regional Quality Policy Inception Workshop in May. 
•    This holistic collaboration is a testament to our ongoing efforts to build technical capacity and promote equitable access to quality infrastructure services across the Blue Pacific Continent. 
•    Vinaka Vakalevu and thank you for your unwavering commitment to this important cause.

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