15 Mar 2017

Kiribati President has vision for 'quantum leap' development

3:00 pm on 15 March 2017

The President of Kiribati has outlined his vision to make his country the Singapore or Dubai of the Pacific.

Taneti Maamau, President of Kiribati, speaks at the meeting with Pacific Island Forum Leaders, held on the sidelines of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly.

President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau. Photo: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

In a speech marking the first year of his government, President Taneti Maamau said fisheries and tourism were priorities for a quantum leap in development.

He said he wanted Kiribati to be a world class eco-friendly traveller destination.

The President also planed to invest in human, natural and cultural capital and infrastructure development.

He said some people may think his plans were ambitious.

But he believed they were achievable if resources and energy were invested towards these targets.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs