Coulton here to advance Australia’s trade and investment interests at 24th annual Fiji Australia Business Forum
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Mark Coulton, is in Fiji to advance Australia’s trade and investment interests during the 24th annual Fiji Australia Business Forum. Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya will open the forum at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.
In a statement Mr Coulton said: “This visit to Fiji, is my first since becoming Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, reflects the importance Australia places on our bilateral trade and investment relationship. “The Fiji Australia Business Forum is an important event for senior business and government representatives from both countries to come together and discuss new and emerging trade and investment opportunities.
“My visit will coincide with an Australian trade delegation to Fiji organised by Austrade, the eighth such mission to visit Fiji in the past four years.
“During the Forum, I look forward to meeting Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Fiji’s Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources. Together we will discuss new opportunities to build on our already strong economic relationship.”
Australia is one of Fiji’s largest trade and investment partners, with two-way trade in goods and services totalling AU$2.05 billion (FJ$ 3.10bn) in 2017.
The statement highlighted that Australia is one of Fiji’s largest tourism market, with Australian travellers making up 43 per cent of short-term visitors to Fiji in 2017.
He said Australia is also one of Fiji’s largest bilateral aid donor.
A significant amount of Australian development support to Fiji focuses on supporting inclusive economic growth to reduce poverty, through targeted investments in private sector development and in human development.
“The Australian Government is committed to pursuing greater economic growth through increasing trade and investment with all our partners.
“It is also committed to stepping up our support for a more resilient Pacific through enhanced cooperation and greater integration between the Australian and Pacific economies, as identified in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper.”