Minister Premila Kumar Meets NZ Minister For Trade in NZ
Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar met her New Zealand Trade counterpart Hon. David Parker this week. Mrs Kumar was on a 3-day official visit to Auckland and Wellington in relation to local government, where New Zealand is providing assistance.
New Zealand is one of Fiji’s largest trade and investment partner and the two countries work closely together in the areas of mutual interest. Among the issues discussed were the PACER Plus (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations) and Ease of Doing Business in Fiji. Further discussions on the PACER Plus will be deliberated during the official visit to Fiji by Minister David Parker, scheduled in the first week of October 2019. Minister Kumar high- lighted that Fiji and New Zealand will work together in creating more trade and investment opportunities for New Zealand and Fijian businesses. From Fiji’s perspective, it is important that we increase our exports to New Zealand, encourage more investors from New Zealand to invest in Fiji and increase the number and value of tourists to our shores. “Currently, New Zealand is leading the world when it comes to ease of doing business and this is an area we can learn from New Zealand”, said Mrs Kumar.
Fiji has already initiated Digital Transformation Programme (digitalFIJI). This is a 4-year programme to implement a number of government applications, enhance the overall ICT infrastructure and build and develop the Fijian Government’s capacity in digital transformation.