Prime Minister Matthew Wale leaves tomorrow for Fiji on his fourth overseas trip since taking office, where he will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Troika Meeting in his capacity as Forum Chair.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Office said Wale is expected to arrive at Nausori Airport tomorrow evening, where he will be welcomed with a 50-member Guard of Honour.
The statement said the Government of Fiji had elevated the visit to an official visit in recognition of Wale’s role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Fiji will also accord the Prime Minister a traditional welcome ceremony.
During his visit, Wale will pay a courtesy call on the President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, at the State House.
He is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
The PIF Troika Meeting begins tomorrow.
The Troika is a leadership mechanism of the Pacific Islands Forum comprising the current Chair, the immediate past Chair and the incoming Chair.
It provides political leadership and continuity between the Forum’s annual Leaders’ Meetings.
Prime Minister Wale, who assumed office on 15 May, is expected to return to Honiara on Friday.
The Fiji trip follows a one-day visit to Papua New Guinea last Friday, where Wale held talks with Prime Minister James Marape and Governor-General Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae.
His previous overseas visits as Prime Minister were to Australia and New Zealand.
