Chinese Market Opportunity for Us: Ambassador Tagicakibau
As Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening ceremony on Monday China will continue to open-up its door and grow wider.
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is an opportunity for Fiji as a small island country in the South Pacific trying to make it to the international stage. Fijian Ambassador to China, Manasa Tagicakibau, made this comment at the second day of the CIIE in Shanghai, China yesterday. Speaking to Fiji Sun he said “If we look at the trade climate out there in the world, they are talking about protectionism and unilateralism.” Mr Tagicakibau said these are the things that obstacle to trade. “But China is doing the opposite, it is opening its door and will continue to open it wider to allow trade between countries. The Chinese market itself is huge. When you talk about products coming into that market we must be ready to produce in volumes, container lots to meet that market,” he said. “Those are some of the challenges that we have, so we are taking another strategy to set up a permanent pavilion here in Shanghai.”
This pavilion, he said, was for small enterprises in Fiji where they could bring in their products to the pavilion and put those products on promotion. This will enable the people and the business community in China to see and access the product. And if they want to access they can engaged with our enterprises back home.”
Mr Tagicakibau said Fiji has four products that were already making their mark in the Chinese market these are;
-Fiji Water,
-Fiji Beer,
-Fiji Noni Tea, and
-Pure Fiji products.
Booths
The distributors of these products also have their booths at the CIIE exhibition centre.
Mr Tagicakibau visited the different booths yesterday and thanked them for taking their time in promoting the Fijian Made products in the Chinese market.
“We are fortunate to be here to be able to promote some of the Fijian products so that they can enter Chinese market.”
Mr Tagicakibau acknowledged the presence of the delegates from Fiji. These included: -Investment Fiji led by Manager Regional Development, Lisala Dyer -Director Tourism at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism (MITT), Nanise Masau and -MITT Economic Planning officer, Shinal Prasad “Despite the heavy engagement that our Government is going through at the time, in the preparation of election, ...This is a high level forum and expo.” Mr Tagicakibau said even though Fiji have the Consular General office here in Shanghai, he was happy that Fiji was able to send a delegation from home.
“To send some of the officials from home like the presence of the Investment Fiji and MITT, just that shows our commitment and it means a lot to the Republic of China. Even if we don’t bring anything or not have much to exhibit but our presences shows our commitment to the cause.”