Three recipients of Australia's Pacific Island Forum 40th Anniversary commemorative scholarships have been announced and will undertake vital work in the Pacific region.
The recipients of Australia's commemorative scholarships were selected from the top ranked applicants for the Australia Awards Scholarships in the Pacific and will commence post graduate studies in Australia in 2013.
The scholarship winners were announced on Thursday 14 February by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuiloma Neroni Slade at a reception in Suva, Fiji.
'I extend my warmest congratulations to these inaugural recipients of the Forum's 40th Anniversary Scholarships and wish them the very best in your academic endeavours in 2013,' Mr Slade said.
John Fasi of the Solomon Islands will undertake a PhD in Chemical and Biological Sciences and then return to the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education as the first Solomon Islander to have studied climate change.
Faafetai Kolose of Samoa, will undertake a Master of Science in Renewable Energy, and wants to return to rural areas in Samoa to raise awareness about renewable energy amongst the youth of Samoa.
Markereta Konrote of Fiji, who will undertake a Master of Environmental and Resource Economics, will focus on the further development of resource based sectors that can drive economic growth and investment–critical for the development of Fiji's extractive industries.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who announced the recipients this week, said these awards are aligned with the Pacific Plan and demonstrate Australia's commitment to helping the Pacific meet its education objectives to achieve better living standards, increase opportunity and stimulate economic growth across the Pacific.
'With these awards Australia is helping to build new leaders in areas critical to the Pacific's development including climate change adaptation, renewable energy and environmental and resource economics,' Senator Carr said.
'Australia will provide more than 700 Australia Awards for citizens of the Pacific in 2013 who will return home to contribute to development in their countries.
With more than 4,300 Awards each year, the Australia Awards emphasise Australia's commitment to education, the flagship of the Australian aid program.'
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced the scholarships in September 2011, with each country committing to provide three scholarships to celebrate this milestone.