Fiji has received 24 pieces of new machinery worth 4.1 million Fiji dollars (US$2.2 million) , which is expected to assist the island nation's rural development programs, according to Fiji's prime minister's office on Wednesday.

Eliki Bomani, deputy secretary of the Development Cooperation and Facilitation in the prime minister's office, told local media that the construction and civil engineering equipment shipment comprises the Chinese government's direct aid grant project.

He said formal delivery of the equipment, which arrived in a ship from China last week, will be done next week.

The machines include excavators, dump trucks, bulldozers, vibratory rollers, a pneumatic roller, motor graders, wheel loaders, loader diggers, water trucks, pickups and trucks with cranes.

Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will officially hand over the machinery to engineers. It is believed that these machinery equipment will boost rural development in Fiji, according to the government official.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2011)