The Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (right) with the Permanent Secretary for Industry and Trade, Shaheen Ali, during the recently-held MSG Roadshow and Trade Fair seminar.
By RACHNA LAL
The first draft of Fiji’s National Trade Policy Framework will be presented at a workshop on “Charting the Future of Fiji’s Trade in the Global Economy” next month.
This has been confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Industry and Trade, Shaheen Ali.
The draft will be presented by consultant, Professor Robert Scollay of the University of Auckland, during the workshop scheduled from September 13 to 14 in Suva.
The ministry embarked on this project with the assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat Hubs & Spoke programme and the European Union and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Mr Ali said the purpose of a national Trade Policy Framework was to ensure a co-ordinated and consistent approach in Fiji’s trade policy.
“This would be to better maximise development gains, by enhancing Fijian industries, investment, exports and trade,” he said.
“It is expected that the final Trade Policy Framework will be the guiding framework for Fiji on becoming a more competitive and dynamic economy, covering all the sectors of the economy.
“The ultimate goal is to create employment and raise the standard of living for all Fijians.”
The first stage of the process involved one-on-one consultations with all relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors and the civil society, which began in June/July this year.
This was followed by the first consultative forum on July 19.
Joint efforts urged
Mr Ali stressed this national Trade Policy Framework, needs the support, contribution and ownership from all segments of the Fijian society.
This includes industry experts and practitioners including, private sector, civil society, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders.
“This framework needs to reflect the realities on the ground and ensure that effective solutions as well as the necessary resources are found to address the many challenges Fiji faces in expanding trade and investment,” he said.
“A well-designed Trade Policy Framework can support the competitiveness of Fijian firms at each stage of the supply chain.
“This can be by creating efficient infrastructure services, promoting exports and foreign investment, improving access to inputs and capital goods and moving goods across borders effectively by addressing export market issues.”
Mr Ali said the framework can also address the inherent and overriding constraints faced by both public and private sectors, at every stage of production and distribution of goods and services for export.
The workshop
Mr Ali said the Workshop will not only look at the Trade Policy Framework from the consultant’s point of view, but will also include presentations from experts from the Fiji’s key sectors.
These include agriculture, sugar, tourism, manufacturing, services and investment.
The National Workshop on Fiji’s Trade Policy Framework will be opened by the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and attended by the Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.