Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp will travel to Fiji tomeet with key representatives as part of a dedicated Pacific EngagementProgram to build regional partnerships for enhanced biosecurity in the Pacificregion.
The department’s Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 strategic roadmap commits todeepening partnerships with Australia’s near neighbours to build capacity andstrengthen national and regional engagement with key international bodies.
During his trip, Dr Schipp will meet with representatives from the FijianGovernment’s Ministry of Agriculture, along with the Biosecurity Authority ofFiji, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Horticultural and AgriculturalMarket Access Program (PHAMA Plus), and the Fiji National University.
Dr Schipp’s visit to Fiji will also include meetings with the Australian HighCommissioner to Fiji and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecolleagues based in the Pacific.
He said that the trip is part of the department’s commitment to increasingpartnerships with Australia’s near neighbours and regional multilateralorganisations.
“Through reinforcing the biosecurity systems of our Pacific neighbours – andstrengthening the multilateral organisations that support them – the PacificEngagement Program aims to safeguard animal health across the Pacific region,”he said.
To build scientific and technical animal health services in the region, thePacific Engagement Program will strengthen key multilateral organisationsthrough targeted funding to support the Pacific Community (SPC) to enhanceregional animal health networks, and through initiatives to enhance Pacificmembership of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
“Our focus on partnership building activities with our Pacific neighbours isconsistent with Australia’s whole of government objective to support regionaleconomic prosperity and food security as part of Australia’s Pacific Step-Upforeign policy,” Dr Schipp said.
“I look forward to reinforcing existing relationships and forging newpartnerships in Fiji to deliver capacity development activities both in Fijiand in neighbouring countries in the Pacific region.”
Tagged: Dr Mark Schnipp
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