reconnecting with fiji
Fiji OUR FRIENDLY AND FLEXIBLE PACIFIC PARTNERS
By DANIEL STOW
Fiji's Trade Commissioner, ANZ
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Fiji is made up of more than 330 islands, 110 of which are inhabited by a population of around 900,000. Fiji and New Zealand are natural partners, sharing a history of strong ties encompassing heritage, culture, sport, business and education. Fiji is New Zealand’s largest trading partner across the Pacific Islands, and the only country in the region to be amongst its top 20 trading partners.
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rior to the pandemic, our total two-way trade was worth $898.07 million and Fiji exports to New Zealand were worth $162 million, largely underpinned by exports of fresh produce, pharmaceutical products, and garments. But the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in a decline in two-way trade by 9.37 percent, which fell to $813.90 million in 2021.
TRANSFORMING FIJI At no time in the country’s history have Fijians held greater confidence in the direction of its nation or in the future it is working hard to build. Fijian income levels are steadily increasing, the nation has moved up the ladder to become an upper middle-income country, and its living standards are the highest they have ever been, as Fijians enjoy the benefits of eight consecutive years of economic growth. These achievements have been driven by the establishment of a modern and inclusive Fijian Constitution, along with an unprecedented programme of administrative reforms across Government; substantial and consistent public investment in
infrastructure, public utilities, education, health and social inclusion; and a concerted effort to position Fiji as the hub of economic activity and regional engagement in the Pacific. Fiji has also emerged as a respected advocate on some of the great challenges facing humanity, including climate change, sustainable development, and the preservation of our oceans. Since 2017, the Fijian government has been working towards Fiji’s National Development Plan (NDP), with the vision of ‘Transforming Fiji’, which maps out the way forward for Fiji and all Fijians to realise its full potential as a nation. The NDP is aligned with global commitments including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Consistent with the goal of the Paris Agreement to achieve climate neutrality and a low-emission world, we will develop a 2050 Pathway to decarbonise the Fijian economy.
NEW ANZ TRADE COMMISSIONER APPOINTED The Fiji Consulate General & Trade Commission, together with