Northern businesses are expected to pick up as the Christmas season nears, two chambers of commerce have said.
Savusavu Chamber president, Ravi Chhaganlal, said people continued to open new shops and restaurants.
They believed the commercial environment would improve when inter-island borders re-opened for trade from November 11.
Mr Chhaganlal said Diwali sales were low.
“We remain positive that the Christmas sales would boom when the majority of the COVID-19 safe protocols are lifted, and consumers were assured of their safety,” he said.
“When new businesses open, it reflects the potential that we have as a tourist-based town.”
Decentralisation
Meanwhile, Labasa Chamber president, Satish Kumar, said decentralisation was a key part of expanding the businesses outside Labasa Town, particularly during the COVID-19 period.
Mr Kumar said the expansion would improve service delivery to rural and remote areas outside the Central Business District of Labasa.
Some residents feared travelling outside their community bubbles, he said.
“Traditionally, we had large scale shops and supermarkets in the central business district of Labasa,” Mr Kumar said.
“Now this trend is changing and people are investing outside these areas, which is encouraging .”
He welcomed new entrepreneurs setting up and developing their businesses especially during this pandemic in areas like Vunika, Tuatua, Delailabasa and many other locations.
“It’s our own people that are investing and making a difference by providing service to customers in these various communities which is great for the growth of the local economy in Vanua Levu,” Mr Kumar added.ne.
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