Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Sakiusa Tubuna, urged government planners and statisticians to adopt innovative and collaborative thinking as he inaugurated the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development, and Statistics Planning Workshop this morning.
Addressing senior officials and staff from the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics and the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Tubuna highlighted the importance of this two-day workshop in aligning the Ministry’s initiatives with the nation’s long-term goals. He emphasized the necessity of a forward-thinking and collective approach, stating, “I stand today with pleasure to open this workshop by highlighting the need for you to fully immerse yourselves in the activities of the next two days and to think forwardly and collaboratively.”
The Assistant Minister stressed that effective planning is vital in navigating the complexities of an evolving corporate, technological, and political landscape. “The more exhaustively you plan, the more elevated your position will be in anticipating challenges, optimizing resource allocation, and adapting to a dynamic environment,” he noted.
Moreover, he pointed out that structured planning fosters clarity and focus by establishing a unified vision and SMART goals across departments. “Planning ensures that everyone within the Ministry is working towards a common vision, eliminating confusion and maximizing efficiency,” Mr. Tubuna stated, adding that it also lays the groundwork for informed decision-making, which helps avoid reactive or ad-hoc choices.
Emphasizing efficiency improvements, he explained that robust planning streamlines processes, reduces duplication, and directs resources to areas of greatest impact. Risk management was highlighted as another essential aspect, with Mr. Tubuna stating, “Planning strengthens your ability to identify risks beforehand and develop contingency plans to mitigate their impact.”
He reminded participants that the government has assigned the Ministry five key priorities to achieve over the next five years within the national development plans they contributed to designing. “I encourage you to view these priorities as your calling — your way of contributing to the improvement of government services and the country’s progress,” he said. Mr. Tubuna also underscored the importance of adaptability in response to change, noting, “Change is inevitable. You must foster an agile workforce that can pivot when needed, adjust to new opportunities and threats, and remain focused on delivering results with minimal disruption.”
Lastly, he urged workshop participants to engage fully in discussions, committing themselves as though the wellbeing and development of the country depended on their input because, indeed, it does. Mr. Tubuna officially opened the planning workshop, wishing participants success as they navigate the Ministry’s course for the next five years.
This workshop reflects a proactive step towards enhancing governance and public service efficiency, fostering a brighter future for the nation by building a dynamic and collaborative working environment.