FIJI NEW ZEALAND AND NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS COUNCILS’ 2022 JOINT CONFERENCE
June 24, 2022 SOFITEL FIJI RESORT & SPA, DENARAU ISLAND
The Patron of the Fiji New Zealand Business Council and Speaker to Parliament, Hon. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau;
The New Zealand High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Mrs. Charlotte Darlow;
The President, Fiji - New Zealand Business Council (FNZBC), Ms. Renu Chand and Board Members;
The President, New Zealand – Fiji Business Council (NZFBC), Mr. Chandar Sen;
The
Governor, Reserve Bank of Fiji, Mr. Ariff Ali;
Trade
Advisor New Zealand to Fiji, Mr. David Dewar;
The
Chief Executive Officer, Investment Fiji, Mr. Kamal Chetty;
The Immediate Past President of the Fiji - New Zealand Business Council, Mr. Vinay Narsey;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Members of the Media.
Miau sa bula re and Good Morning to you all. It is my great
pleasure to officiate as Chief Guest of this Fiji New Zealand and New Zealand
Fiji Business Councils 2022 Joint Conference!
Prior to the pandemic, Fiji and New Zealand had
achieved the closest partnership in our nations’ history. Trade and investment
flowed between our people sectors such as manufacturing,
mining, real estate, and retail. New Zealand was Fiji’s second largest source
of tourism, accounting for around a quarter of a million of our visitors
annually. In total, more than 5,000 Fijian companies have recorded traded in
New Zealand over the past five years.
The pandemic changed things, as both of our governments made the difficult but necessary choice to enter a period of relative isolation. Planes stopped flying in visitors, regional investment dried up, projects stalled, and meetings such as this were relegated to webinars. Knowing how terribly affected our people were due to the economic fallout, Fiji took decisive steps to become one of the first countries in our region to safely re-open. We are now projecting record-breaking, double-digit economic growth this year.
New Zealand’s borders are open as well, which is wonderful news. With both of our borders open, Fiji and New Zealand are both well and truly open for business, and we have a great deal of opportunity on the table to discuss today.
Let me first
acknowledge the work of Fiji New Zealand Business Council for organising
this two-day
event. It’s wonderful to see you all here in-person. I would like to especially welcome the 30 Kiwis here as part of the New
Zealand Fiji Business Council’s Trade Mission to Fiji. Bula Vinaka and Welcome to Fiji!
Ladies and gentlemen, this joint council is an important staging ground for cooperation between business and government leaders from Fiji and New Zealand. The Fiji New Zealand Business Council, true to its purpose to promote friendship, goodwill and understanding between the business communities of Fiji and New Zealand, continues to actively facilitate business relationships as well as people-to-people interactions to stimulate domestic and export trade. There is security in forging these relationships within our region –– the past two years have shown us how volatile and increasingly unreliable global supply chains can prove to be. As island nations, we’ll always be importers in some way or another. Expanding trade within our region is simply a more resilient model.
The Fiji New Zealand Business Council’s reach also
includes close collaborative work with the Fiji Australian Business Council. A
few years ago these two Fiji-based councils hosted a joint conference that included
their respective sister councils – the New Zealand Fiji Business Council and
the Australia Fiji Business Council. I hope to see another soon.
The Fiji New Zealand Business Council also works relatively
closely with the New Zealand High Commission to Fiji, this collaboration
includes relevant assistance that is required to provide the networks and
connections that help get more trade flowing.
Ladies and gentlemen, the recent re-establishment
of a New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the Pacific is a pivotal moment for the
business council. This role had been vacant for quite some time and having this
position filled now is both timely as Fiji’s continues its economic recovery. The
New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the Pacific works closely with New Zealand
businesses with pre-existing connections with Fiji as well as with those hoping
to establish a relationship with Fiji.
The appointment of a new New Zealand Trade
Commissioner to the Pacific demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to the ‘Duavata’ Partnership between Fiji and
New Zealand. This also opens new frontiers of cooperation for our two countries
in terms of trade and development. This relationship has led to the promotion
of a business mentoring programme for FNZBC Members – in collaboration with the
Learn Fast Centre, based in New Zealand.
Later on, you shall have the opportunity to hear from mentorees of the
programme who will share their experiences.
Our recovery is off to a great start. For 2022, data
shows that New Zealand is Fiji’s third largest trading partner for goods
trade, both as a source of imports and as Fiji’s third largest export
market.
In acknowledging the work of the Joint Councils over the past three decades, I would like to shed some light on a few issues close to my heart, which I hope you will include in your discussions.
Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to
support our farmers in managing what can only be called a price-increase crisis
for input costs. There’s an opportunity for more diversification that taps the
talents of farmers, our hospitable climate and our islands’ large swathes of
arable land. Ultimately, farmers who practice mixed cash cropping are more
resilient and successful at making a living. There lies an opportunity for the
two Business Councils support projects that assist farmers with technical
expertise and export marketing resources to expand into new, lucrative crops
and more compelling ways to value-add to the high quality agricultural goods
that Fijian farmers produce.
Our Blue Pacific is also home to many untapped
opportunities in the ocean space. That is why Fiji has set itself on a path to
become the world’s bluest economy. New Zealand has a wealth of expertise and
resources in recycling, renewable energy, coastal protection, and aquaculture. Let’s
bring more of these minds to Fiji. Fiji’s ocean covers 1.3 million square
kilometers of ocean –– including some of the world’s richest reefs –– and we
are committed to sustainably managing every inch of it. That makes for 1.3
million reasons these Councils should be exploring avenues for exchange of
information, expertise and related resources in the ocean arena. It is this
century’s greatest opportunity.
Madam President, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and
Gentlemen the 24th of June, commemorates the start of the Maori New Year also known as Matariki. This is a time to reflect on the past year and
those that have passed away, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead. With that said I wish you well in
your deliberations and for much success for both Councils and this joint
Conference.
“Nga mihi o
Matariki, te tau hou Maori” - “Happy Matariki and Maori New Year” May the Almighty bless our respective
countries, New Zealand and Fiji and our peoples abundantly.
Vinaka Vakalevu!!