Huge potential in Vanua Levu for economic growth

Where there are natural resources there is a big potential for economic activities. This is true for Vanua Levu, our second biggest island.

For many years we have talked about the prospects of utilising these resources to stimulate economic development.

We have made some progress but more still need to be done to realise the full potential that is available. COVID-19 has given us the impetus to do something about it.

With the border still closed, restricting tourism and international business, it is important that we look at opportunities locally to keep the economy humming.

The Vanua Levu potential and the need to develop it was reiterated by Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu at the conclusion of the three-day tour of the Northern Division by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

He was among a group of Cabinet Ministers who accompanied the PM on his tour of the division to visit development projects undertaken by the Government and meet with Fijians in the North.

He recognises that there are huge potentials and opportunities in Vanua Levu that needed to be tapped into to improve the livelihoods of those in rural areas and also contribute to the development and growth of not only Vanua Levu but the country as a whole. “We have always stated from the beginning that rural Fiji has a lot to contribute to our growth and particularly in terms of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and of course those potentials need to be realised,” he said.

The Goverment has worked hard to provide the basic infrastructure that would help people take the initiative to engage in income generating projects. Vanua Levu’s the biggest resource island.

But there is a lot of it lying idle when it should be used for commercial purposes and create livelihoods for the people.

Apart from agriculture there is forestry.

And then they have fisheries which has a lot of potential for growth.

Mr Seruiratu sums up the situation by saying:“Vanua Levu is a more agro-based economy because we have a lot of activities in agriculture, particularly sugar, rice and copra and of course livestock as well.

“There are a lot of activities in the forestry sector and the fisheries sector as well.

“We are particularly impressed with the improvements done in the sugar and non-sugar sector as well. “Vanua Levu still has the Government rice mill and we have seen the improvements in the production and the process”.

But there is potential for more to be achieved.