200 Fijian Businesses in Canada
‘Before the direct flight, Fiji seemed to be a very far destination for Canadians with all the customs stress they have to go through in other countries before getting to Fiji.’
Fijians living in Canada have elevated from just having a random job to joining professional organizations, leadership roles and even owning businesses.
Raghwa Gopal, the president and chief executive officer for Innovate BC in Canada is one of them.
Innovate BC is a Crown Agency of the Province of British Columbia which funds entrepreneurial support programmes in the province. Innovate BC focuses on the support of technology startups and entrepreneurs through programmes, sponsorship and competitions that facilitate technology commercialization.
Mr Gopal said with more than 50,000 Fijians now living all over Canada, at least 200 businesses are owned by Fijians.
“That is a good transition from just working a random job to a little bit of being an entrepreneur to a more professional occupation,” he said.
People were brave enough to open businesses in a foreign country which was a good move.
However, there is still a shortage of Fijians in leading positions and “that needs to change”.
Trade
With the direct Fiji to Vancouver flight, Mr Gopal said it has created huge opportunities for Canada and more so Fiji.
The tourism industry would benefit more, he adds.
“It is so much easier to get goods across both countries.
“Some of these produce like world class local salmon, berries, cherries, apples, wine from here can be sent to Fiji which helps the tourism industry.
“If you talk to hotel operators they would say that if they have Canadian salmon and top it with Canadian wine, they would charge tourists twice as much for the local combination and tourists would like that.
“But the biggest opportunity right now is Canadians would look at Fiji as a destination option and this creates a linkage between the two countries. Canadians can enjoy Fiji’s beauty which is the real paradise in the world.”
Mr Gopal said before the direct flight, Fiji seemed to be a very far destination for Canadians with all the customs stress they have to go through in other countries before getting to Fiji.
And because of that, they preferred vacation in other countries like Mexico.
Fiji could also be an option for farmers all over Canada getting people across to work on a short term basis in packing and harvesting.
It used to happen before, Mr Gopal said, but it stopped because of the customs requirement in other transiting countries which employers found stressful to handle, especially getting transit visas for workers.
“We need to have a stronger presence from Fiji in the trade sector.”
He said the Fiji representatives in Canada need to understand how trade happens between countries.
“It’s not about being present in events, it’s about building relationships and promoting Fiji in bilateral trade.
“I’m suggesting to the Canadian government to have more presence in Fiji because there are opportunities for both countries.”
Fijian community
The relationship in the Fijian community in Canada is fantastic, he said.
“We get together when things happen in Fiji, raise as much money to support Fijians back home whenever the need arises.”
However, he said, one of the biggest problems now is migrating back to Fiji.
“This is not happening because of one major reason, health care.
“Canada is probably in the top five in the world in terms of health care. Fijians here are hesitant to go back because they are well taken care of, especially the elderlies.”
But moreover, there are close ties within the Fijian community and they pride themselves to be called Fijians.