Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, David Kolitagane has urged the exploration of ways to allow for the private sector to drive infrastructure development in small island states such as Fiji and the Pacific Islands.
Kolitagane was speaking to the participants of the Green Infrastructure, Poverty Eradication and Building, Repairing and Maintenance and Housing symposium in Nadi.
He highlighted the critical need for improved infrastructure planning, better implementation and available funding for infrastructure development.
Kolitagane says there is a need to close the infrastructure gap given the increasing demand due to population and urban migration increase.
He says the government’s commitment to Fiji’s infrastructure development is reflected in the increased budget dedicated to the road, water and energy sector.
He says in the past 10 years, from 2007 to 2017 budget allocated to the road sector has increased by 8 folds or 800%, energy by 7 folds or 700% and water by 2 folds or 200%.
Kolitagane says the government has provided enabling policy and legal framework to support infrastructure development, which has seen an increase in private sector investment.
