Fiji is looking to Singapore for inspiration as it pushes ahead with reforms to modernise its courts and justice system.
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga began the post-WIPO leg of his Singapore programme on 28 August with a series of high-level meetings at the Ministry of Law, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Supreme Court of Singapore.
For Turaga, the visit was more than diplomatic routine. It was an opportunity to see how one of Asia’s most advanced legal systems is harnessing technology to make justice more efficient, transparent and accessible.
At the Ministry of Law, which oversees intellectual property, mediation, insolvency and access to justice, Turaga explored how Singapore’s integrated approach could help shape Fiji’s own reforms. “The exchanges built directly on WIPO discussions on registry services and intellectual property, particularly how digital identity systems like SingPass and MyInfo are linked with court and registry services to improve efficiency and transparency,” he said.
The World Intellectual Property Organization, a United Nations agency established in 1967, promotes the protection of inventions, creative works and brands across the globe. Its forums and treaties help countries cooperate on digital registries, intellectual property and dispute resolution, areas Fiji is keen to strengthen.
At the Supreme Court of Singapore, the delegation studied institutional models for judicial strengthening, case management and public access to justice. For a country like Fiji, where modernisation and digitisation of the courts remain key priorities, the lessons were both practical and timely.
Later, in talks with Singapore’s Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, both sides explored bilateral cooperation in legal aid, dispute resolution and digital justice reform.
The engagement also tapped into a relationship that has been building for decades. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, more than 1,500 Fijian officials have received training in governance and digital transformation since the 1990s.
Turaga said these shared experiences have paved the way for deeper collaboration. “These experiences provided a strong foundation for deepening cooperation on legal innovation,” he noted.
As Fiji moves forward with its justice reforms, Singapore’s model provides both a roadmap and a trusted partner. The broader goal, Turaga stressed, is to ensure that legal systems evolve with technology while staying accessible to ordinary citizens.
