Fiji will provide assistance to the Solomon Islands for the hosting of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in July.
A government statement said Fiji would join the rest of the Melanesian Spearhead Group provide assistance to the Solomon Islands.The statement said Cabinet was informed of this by Education and Culture and Arts Minister Filipe Bole.
He said as host of the 2012 Festival of Pacific Arts, the Solomon Islands was seeking the support of MSG members through direct assistance and technical co-operation.
"The government, through MSG cultural co-operation, will assist the Solomon Islands in the form of the waiver of fees and charges levied by relevant government agencies on the cost of freighting four buses from Kadar Buksh Limited (KBL) Bus Company of Lautoka from Fiji to the Solomon Islands and back," he said.
"And the waiver of duty on raw materials purchased by Best Promotions Fiji for the processing of merchandising item for use by the Solomon Islands Festival Committee."
The minister said the organizing committee of the Solomon Islands had selected KBL for the bid for the provision of bus services to be used as shuttle buses during the festival. Fiji is expected to send a 100-member delegation to the festival.