The Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration will now be able to conveniently conduct visual collaboration with proper video conferencing equipment of its own right in their office after taking delivery of video conferencing equipment donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The brief handing over ceremony takes place at the Ministry’s head office today (Monday 5), witnessed by Heads of Departments of the Ministry.
UNDP’s Country Manager Mr Berdi Berdiyev handed over the video conference equipment to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Mr Riley Mesepitu.
In his brief remarks, Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu acknowledged the efforts of UNDP in ensuring fundamental government services are not disrupted during this pandemic through their continued assistance.
“You have been extremely supportive not only to the MCILI but to the entire government machinery as well as Private Sector and the Civil Society through this difficult times”, Mesepitu said.
He revealed that his Ministry has for quite some time been experiencing inconveniences due to lack of proper video conferencing equipment and on most occasions they have to use other offices or even use one lap top just to be able to access virtual meetings, consultations, workshops and even to the extent to Virtual Trade Missions.
Mesepitu stressed that this assistance by UNDP has adequately met the needs of the Ministry because it has connections with a number of International Organizations such as International Labour Organization (ILO), Pacific Immigration Development Corporation (PIDC), and International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Coconut Community (ICC), and also the Ministry’s participation to the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) as active member of the MSME Financial Working Group.
“So you can see the need for such facility so that we can maintain our connectivity to our partners both locally and internationally”, Mesepitu said.
Permanent Secretary Mesepitu added that: “I and my Heads of Departments are pleased to witness the handing over of the equipment that we believe is part of the digital transformation to support the government to respond to Covid-19 related challenges”.
In concluding, PS Mesepitu brought to the attention of those present at the handing-over ceremony that the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration and UNDP has an existing partnership through UMI Waka programme.
“The UNDP will continue using the premises of the Youth Entrepreneur Co-working Space – Iumi Waka – for the purpose of empowering and engaging youth to nurture innovation, co-design and develop the next generation of services by prototyping new ideas and solutions that address national priorities that can be scaled by the government and its private sector partners”. Mesepitu affirmed.
Meanwhile, UNDP’s Country Manager Berdi Berdiyev acknowledged that the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration is comprised of key fundamental departments and UNDP recognizes the importance of facilitating assistance that will enhance the work of its departments within government and with other important stakeholders.
GCU Press