Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, joined Pacific leaders in Milan for the 35th Pacific Developing Member Countries (DMCs) Governors’ Meeting, held alongside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting.

Finance ministers and senior officials from 13 Pacific nations engaged in direct discussions with ADB President Masato Kanda and top management, addressing urgent global challenges including economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and the ongoing climate crisis.

Professor Prasad underscored the importance of stronger regional collaboration, proposing bold initiatives such as a visa-free Pacific extending to Australia and New Zealand to boost connectivity, investment, and policy alignment.

He also led conversations around enhancing private sector growth, emphasizing the unique hurdles faced by Pacific nations.

Calling for reforms to ADB’s Private Sector Window, he recommended tailored support mechanisms and increased technical expertise in the region to improve project delivery.

Prasad reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to regional solidarity and praised ADB’s expanding role in Pacific development.

In response, ADB President Kanda expressed the Bank’s readiness to deepen its partnership with Pacific governments to address shared vulnerabilities and spur sustainable growth.