In terms of trade, New Zealand remains an important partner for fiji
MARAIA VULA
SUVA
Government and the Ministry of and Industry and Trade stand ready to work side-by-side with the business community in New Zealand.
These were the words of Permanent Secretary for Trade Shaheen Ali during the Fiji-New Zealand and New Zealand-Fiji Business Councils Joint Conference at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva yesterday.
Mr Ali said: “We stand ready to work side-by-side with the business community in New Zealand to reignite trade and investment between our two countries, which has fallen stagnant over the past few years.
“We don’t want New Zealand investors and businesses to miss out on what we consider the best trade and investment climate Fiji has ever seen.
“The Bainimarama Government has gone to great lengths to create a stable and conducive business environment that encourages growth and development. “
Mr Ali stressed the Fijian Government was investing significantly in the development of key infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and airports.
“Over the past four years, New Zealand investment has decreased to a negligible level, with the number of investors more than halved since 2009. I think we can all agree that this is a trend we need to reverse.
“In terms of trade, New Zealand remains an important partner, accounting for 10.25 per cent of Fiji’s total trade.
“However, over the past five years our bilateral trade has only marginally increased, at less than 10 per cent per annum. During the same period our trade with China has increased by over 300 per cent.
Trade re-engagement
“Fiji is New Zealand’s largest export destination in the Pacific region, but imports from non-traditional partners such as Malaysia, Indonesia and China are increasing at a steady rate.”
“While there is no doubt a new sense of optimism is in the air, we must also acknowledge that there is a sense of urgency about how we move forward from here.
“In terms of trade, Fiji firmly believes that in order for re-engagement to be meaningful, it should not just be willingness on the part of the Fijian Government and Fijian industries.
“But the New Zealand Government must also take significant and concrete steps to show their commitment towards mending relations.
“In order to understand the present and talk about the future, we first have to remember the past. Since 2007, New Zealand’s stance towards Fiji has been counter-productive.”
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