Symposium promotes investment interests
THE Fiji-Japan Investment and Trade Mission will promote Fijian products for export opportunities to Japan and vise-versa and Investment Symposium for matching capital investment with Fijian businesses and promoting investment interest of Japanese companies.
According to Investment Fiji the Fiji-Japan partnership is one of the most important and co-operative ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970.
Investment Fiji acting chief executive officer Kamal Chetty said Fiji exported on average $F57 million worth of goods annually to Japan where tuna, mahogany, raintree and mineral water make up majority of the export bundle while imports from Japan stands at close to $200m and largely includes the importation of vehicles and other machinery.
Mr Chetty said visitors would have access to investment projects across key industries together with a wide range of premium Fijian products and services on offer in Fiji through the virtual platform, adding that the virtual exposition would market Fijian exporters and companies to international buyers and distributors and position Fiji to untapped potential key markets.
“The month-long event will connect Fijian companies with an opportunity to expand business services and market their products to various ranks of network in Japan.
“Our country market plans are aimed at maintaining the current market for exporters and explore strategies to capture market for Fijian exporters to grow our export markets.
“We continue to drive promotions and outreach and further enhance the brand image of Fiji with a suite of virtual trade and investment initiatives,” he said.
In a statement from Investment Fiji, Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Kawakami Fumihiro said strengthening economic relations between Japan and Fiji with a key focus on revitalising trade and investment was one of the areas that the Japanese Embassy wanted to focus on.
“We are very pleased to have this Fiji-Japan Trade & Investment
Mission 2021 with a strong initiative of Investment Fiji despite the world COVID-19 pandemic.
“This online event consists of two parts: Export Promotion of Fijian Products and Promotion of Investment from Japanese companies in Fiji.”
Mr Fumihiro added at the PALM 9 held on July 2 this year, the Government of Japan announced the “Pacific Kizuna Policy” to further strengthen cooperation between Japan and the Pacific island nations through “all-Japan” efforts.
The 2021 Fiji-Japan Investment and Trade Mission was launched recently by Investment Fiji in partnership with the Embassy of Japan Fiji, Pacific Islands Centre Japan, JETRO Sydney and Fiji
Embassy Japan.
The virtual business-to-business platform (B2B) is targeted to both investors and buyers in Japan.
The month of October to November has been dedicated to the Asian market as Investment Fiji sets to market Fijian products and projects to Japanese investors.
Some of the Fijian products imported into Japan include seafood such as bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna, wood products and other potential products such as mineral water, sugar, spices, chocolate, clothing and cosmetics.
According to Mr Chetty the next Exposition is the Fiji-Korea Trade Expo set to launch next month.