Written by MFOR Media on 24 April 2025.
The handing over ceremony of two brand new Toyota buses was conducted yesterday, 16 April 2025, between the Mr Suzuki Hideyuki, Charge dáffaires of the Embassy of Japan in Kiribati and Mr Riibeta Abeta, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources on behalf of the Government of Kiribati. These donations were part of Japan’s ESDP program and on-going cooperation and commitment to support the people of Kiribati. Mr Hideyuki highlighted that these gifts came from the people of Japan and a symbol of their friendship and continued cooperation to the people of Kiribati. Mr Abeta received these donations and acknowledged the people and Government of Japan for their generosity and long-standing cooperation with Kiribati. He assured Japan that these vehicles will be well maintained, and they will facilitate the efficient movement of our people, goods and essential services for economic activities. The MFOR acknowledge the people and government of Japan for their generosity and donations.
On the Saturday, 12th April; the Honourable Minister Ribanataake Tiwau led the team comprising of the World Bank team and the MFOR staff on a coral planting mission. This new coral garden planting activity marked the launching of the coral restoration site in one of the reef patches of the Tarawa lagoon. This was followed by a small celebration of this coral gardening initiative in ambo, which is going to be the regular activity to restore health of coral reefs in South Tarawa lagoon. In his launching speech, he emphasized corals are the rainforests of the sea and they are most diverse and valuable ecosystems on earth. Coral reefs have other important services such as they support marine life, provide livelihoods and protect coastlines. If this initiative is successful, it can be rolled out to other sites that have degrading coral reefs and will involve the wide public, government stakeholders, NGOs and those interested to contribute in this good cause for our ocean. The MFOR acknowledged partners and his staff for their tireless efforts in implementing this coral gardening initiative in Kiribati.
The Kiribati Seafood Verification Division (KSVD) in collaboration with the Seafood Toxicology Laboratory Division team hosted a 3-day induction training at the CPPL boardroom from 8/04/2025 to 10/04/2025. The team delivered basic theoretical topics to CPPL staff on different aspects relative to quality control, microbiology and chemical testing in seafood and water testing, seafood safety and quality training on ciguatera, sensory evaluation, cold supply chain, market access requirements, aseptic technique, good hygiene practice and HACCP followed by practical and group session activities. The training provides relevant topics to enhance their capacity building, adds beneficial impacts to their daily work activity and provides an opportunity to earmark for fish export in the future. The team expressed sincere gratitude to the government of New Zealand through Tobwaan Waara Program (TWP) for its generous funding support to this valuable training.
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