Off to a great start

FIJI’s recovery is off to a great start.

President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere noted this when he officiated at the official opening of the 33rd joint conference of the Fiji New Zealand and New Zealand Fiji Business Councils on Denarau, Nadi yesterday.

“For 2022, data shows that New Zealand is Fiji’s third largest trading partner for goods trade, both as a source of imports and as Fiji’s third largest export market,” Ratu Wiliame said.

“Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to support our farmers in managing what can only be called a price-increase crisis for input costs.

“There’s an opportunity for more diversification that taps the talents of farmers, our hospitable climate and our islands’ large swathes of arable land.”

Ratu Wiliame told 150 delegates that prior to the pandemic, Fiji and New Zealand had achieved the closest partnership in Fiji’s history.

The president also noted that trade and investment flowed between our people sectors such as manufacturing, mining, real estate and retail.

New Zealand, the president stated, was Fiji’s second largest source of tourism, accounting for around a quarter of a million of our visitors annually.

“The pandemic changed things, as both of our governments made the difficult but necessary choice to enter a period of relative isolation.

“Planes stopped flying in visitors, regional investment dried up, and projects stalled and meetings such as this were relegated to webinars.

“Knowing how terribly affected our people were due to the economic fallout, Fiji took decisive steps to become one of the first countries in our region to safely reopen.

“We are now projecting recordbreaking, double-digit economic growth this year.

“New Zealand’s borders are open as well, which is wonderful news. With both of our borders open, Fiji and New Zealand are both well and truly open for business.”