29 June 2012: The Council of the Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) has received a donation of US$500,000 from the Taiwan/ROC Regional Development Assistance Fund for 2011/2012, for the support and implementation of CROP agencies’ regional projects. These projects address education and capacity building, regional aviation safety, fisheries, marine and water management, and the Smaller Island States (SIS) programmes.

In addition, the assistance will support programmes and activities implemented by the Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed), the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (PIFFA), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Power Association (PPA), the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP), the South Pacific Board of Educational Assessment/Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPBEA/SPC), and the University of the South Pacific (USP).

The donation was made during a ceremony hosted by the PIFS Secretary General, in Suva, Fiji, on 28 June 2012.

Taiwan/ROC donated the same amount to PIFS earlier this year to support the 2012/2013 Taiwan/ROC – Forum Scholarship Scheme. [PIFS Press Release]