Japan and Fiji are to launch a ¥1.75m (US$11.60m) project to develop regional centers, improve meteorological services and reduce the risk of disasters in the Pacific Islands.
This project aims to improve meteorological services and strengthen early warning systems (EWS) in the Pacific Island region by developing the training center, measuring instrument center and disaster prevention and awareness exhibition facilities of the Fiji Meteorological Service, the region’s core hub in the meteorological field, thereby enhancing human resource development and quality control of meteorological data.
Inking the agreement
On March 27, 2025, in Suva, Fiji, His Excellency Rokuichiro Michii, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Fiji, and the Honorable Ro Filipe Qaraniqio Tuisawau, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport of the Republic of Fiji, signed and exchanged notes for ‘the Project for the Development of Regional Centres for the Improvement of Meteorological Services and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific Islands’.
This project will be carried out as part of the Co-Creation for Common Agenda Initiative, Strengthening Disaster Prevention and Early Warning Systems in Fiji and the Pacific Region. The government of the Republic of Fiji expressed appreciation for the comprehensive approach to this initiative, responding to the important issue of natural disasters together with Japan, in a manner that makes use of Japan’s knowledge of disaster risk reduction and Build Back Better plan.
10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)
This ¥1.75m (US$11.60m) project embodies the Climate Change and Disasters focus that Japan announced as a priority area of cooperation at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) on July 18, 2024.
PALM10 was co-chaired by Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Brown of the Cook Islands, the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organizations including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia and New Zealand, and the chair of PIF. Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka represented the Republic of Fiji.
At this meeting, the government of Japan also announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years, based on the seven priority areas of cooperation that are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent of the PIF: political leadership and regionalism; people-centered development; peace and security; resources and economic development; ocean and environment; and technology and connectivity.
In related news, the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recently signed a strategic relationship arrangement to enhance their longstanding collaboration on satellite meteorology and create more accurate and reliable forecasts and warnings. Click here to read the full story.