Guangdong Province government pledges to fund new stadium in Valelevu

On September 13, 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by representatives of the Government of Fiji and the Guangdong Provincial Government, which pledged the construction of a sports stadium at Valelevu, a suburb of Nasinu. The stadium is to have a capacity of 3,500, with other facilities to include two changing rooms, public convenience, medical room, media room, and a car park. The project is to be completed in conjunction with the Nasinu Town Council. Discussions about the Guangdong Provincial Administration's participation in the construction of the stadium began around March 2018. The project has experienced delays in commitment of funds and implementation. Detailed plans were expected to be provided by the Guangdong Province "by mid-March, 2019" but were not. In May 2019, the Fijian Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development made statements about plans to implement the project "over the next few years". The Chinese Ambassador indicated construction would begin by the end of 2019. However, as of the Auditor General report published November 2021, construction had yet to begin, with only a Chinese Embassy statement that "work is still continuing". The Fiji Ministry of Local Government appears to be co-financing the project. Originally, $850,000 was allocated in the 2017/2018 National Budget for the stadium, with media sources indicating the Guangdong Provincial Administration would take more of an advisory/implementing role. However, auditor reports from July 2019 indicate only $324,003 was to be allocated by the Ministry of Local Government for the project, and a Chinese Embassy source explicitly states the Guangdong Province is providing funding.

Additional details

This project should not be confused with #67035. While it is possible the China Trust Fund financing went to the same stadium construction project (though this is not clear one way or the other), (1) the trust fund grant was provided between July 31, 2017, and July 31, 2018, prior to the MOU signing in September 2018, (2) the trust fund grant references the multipurpose court rather than the stadium construction and design, and (3) a Chinese government source from September 2019 states the Guangdong Provincial Government is funding the stadium construction project (see "Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Qian Bo at the 70th National Day Reception at the Suva Civic Center"). While it is possible the Guangdong Provincial Government funded the project via the trust fund, this does not seem to be precedented in other China Trust Fund projects, and the payment made to the fund over the July 31, 2017, and July 31, 2018 period only amounted to $579. It is also possible the grant pre-dates the MOU, given conversations about the stadium construction in March 2018, but the different financiers seems sufficient evidence in conjunction with the timeline to keep these projects separate.

Number of official sources

7

Number of total sources

10