6 Apr 2011

Fiji and PNG in land swap after MSG summit

1:19 pm on 6 April 2011

The Fiji Ministry of Lands is finalising lease details of the pieces of land given by the interim government to fellow Melanesian Spearhead Group countries Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

FBC news says according to the Ministry's permanent secretary, Filimoni Kau, details are being finalised before the MSG countries can start work on the land.

The 1.7 acres pieces of land were offered during the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting last week after a request was made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Kau says the pieces of land in Muanikau were given solely for the MSG country missions in Fiji.

He says the PNG government has also confirmed it is giving Fiji a piece of land for its mission in Port Moresby.

Mr Kau says this shows the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.