From left: ANZ chief executive officer Pacific and Fiji, Vishnu Mohan, Suva Chamber of Commerce & Industry president, Dr Nur Ali, Fiji Business Forum chairman, Arvin Maharaj and Suva Chamber of Commerce & Industry vice president, Sunil Sharma. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
By RANOBA BAOA
The Fiji Business Forum 2013 is looking to continue value adding towards the forum by consistently acting as a ‘catalyst’ to improve the policy processes undertaken by policy makers.
This is the firm assurance by Suva Chamber of Commerce & Industry president, Dr Nur Ali and Fiji Business Forum chairman, Arvin Maharaj.
This was highlighted as ANZ Fiji pledged its exclusive support of $20,000 towards the forum at Aliz Pacific yesterday.
The forum themed: ‘Solutions for Business Prosperity’, will fit in well with the discussions by highlighting key areas, Dr Ali said.
Discussion focus
This being land in terms of dealing with types of leases, price control and commerce commission and the new regulatory framework.
“The theme will look out to work with the policy makers, to help refine their thinking with the policy to better suit business,” Dr Ali said.
“I believe that the business community (we as a chamber of commerce) and the other business sectors and the recipients of the regulation are the ones who can make and refine the policy better by providing educated feedback and input.”
Mr Maharaj said: “With the Fiji Business Forum what we are doing is to act as a catalyst and as a problem-buster.
“We want to buster the problems, open the door and Government also needs to understand what the private sector wants and what the problems are.
This is done to improve, bridge the gap, accelerate and make it easier for better service delivery, he added.
With a lot of processes that the forum sees needs addressing, Dr Ali said government and private sector need to foster positive changes in terms of implementing policies.
Sharpening event
The one-day event will focus straight to the point.
“In keeping with our one-day event, we want it sharp and focused rather than having two or a three-day event where people get tired and they don’t really listen,” she said.
“We have the Minister for Trade attending the forum and he has committed himself the whole day with us along with the other policy makers.
“So we feel that a sharp focused approach is the way to go in helping the process of business.”
One notable implementation which the forum had seen since its first discussion in 2011 was Government has set aside $3.0 million for the ANZ Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Scheme.
This was administered by the Reserve Bank of Fiji which was launched in April last year, she noted.
Meanwhile, ANZ chief executive officer Pacific and Fiji Vishnu Mohan handed over a cheque of $20,000 to the Fiji Business Forum.
In handing over the cheque, Mr Mohan commended the efforts by the chamber and the forum for the annual event.
“It’s not just about government and private sectors, it’s also about how do you make the country conducive for foreign direct investment,” he said.
“The forum will certainly provide the platform for more forward-looking initiatives to transpire and I look forward to event outcomes that support the sustainable growth of Fiji’s economy through practical, lasting and mutually beneficial effort.”