Punja appointed High Commissioner to Australia
Saturday, 14/03/2015
Businessman Yogesh Punja has been appointed as Fiji High Commissioner to Australia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said Punja’s vast commercial background and skills will add much value to the work of the Ministry. He said his appointment demonstrates Government's commitment towards renewing and strengthening the bilateral relation between Fiji and Australia.
Kubuabola said the Ministry is confident that Punja will enhance Fiji's foreign policy interests in its relations with Australia. He highlighted that Punja’s experience includes leading the popular Punjas Group of Companies at its New Zealand operations. Punja will take up his posting in Canberra next month. Source: Fijivillage News
Saturday, 14/03/2015
Businessman Yogesh Punja has been appointed as Fiji High Commissioner to Australia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said Punja’s vast commercial background and skills will add much value to the work of the Ministry. He said his appointment demonstrates Government's commitment towards renewing and strengthening the bilateral relation between Fiji and Australia.
Kubuabola said the Ministry is confident that Punja will enhance Fiji's foreign policy interests in its relations with Australia. He highlighted that Punja’s experience includes leading the popular Punjas Group of Companies at its New Zealand operations. Punja will take up his posting in Canberra next month. Source: Fijivillage News
"It is a pity to see that the Fiji Government has appointed Yogesh Punja as the High Commissioner to Australia. At this time of Fiji's relations or re-engagement with Australia, Fiji needs a seasoned, astute and professional diplomat with solid background in international and regional issues, an understanding of Australians and Australian Foreign Policy. We need a technocrat and not a "favorite" son with questionable past. We need someone with good negotiation skills. You could not even argue that we need someone with skills in promoting trade as Fiji-Australia relations in trade and tourism has been on auto pilot now for sometime and even survived coups. We have had such long historical relations in trade, investment and commerce with Australia since Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), Burns Philp and Morris Hedstrom days and Australians don't need to be attracted to invest or engage with trade in Fiji. They know Fiji and have traditionally watched opportunities in Fiji. Even if it was trade relations for which Punja was appointed, Punja does not have any experience in trade policy which is a very complex area. If we are looking for a bilateral free trade arrangement with Australia or a trilateral Fiji-ANZ free trade arrangement which Fiji prefers to a regional free trade arrangement involving all PICs and ANZ, one needs a different set of skills from Punja types.Yogesh Punja knows how to make money for his family business. He has commercial experience and in a family business environment. He does not necessarily understand multi-nationals. We have missed a great opportunity to build a more mature relationship with a very sophisticated neighbour. This shows that in spite of huff and a puff, we still do not understand Australia at all when we make appointments like that. It goes to show how naive and simplistic our regional foreign policy is. We wonder if Rupika Nandan, Special Adviser to Foreign Minister Kubuabola, had a hand in the selection - remember the Lodhia connection!"
