EXPECT agriculture and tourism to take centre stage at the Australia-Fiji Business Council on the Gold Cost next week.
The Fiji government will send a high level delegation to the event, including Deputy Prime Ministers Dr Biman Prasad who holds the Finance portfolio and Manoa Kamikamica in charge of Trade and Commerce.
Also at the council will be Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna. The annual event has been described as the most important dialogue on bilateral trade and investment with Australia being Fiji’s largest trading partner.
While leaders in aviation, tourism, banks, ports, transportation, commerce , and industry will be present, the recent entry into Fiji’s agriculture sector of Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC will generate much interest.
The multi-billion dollar Sri Lankan firm is contracted to operate Fiji’s ports but last month announced an initiative to reshape the commercial farming landscape.
“This strategic undertaking strengthens the partnership between Sri Lanka’s Plantation expertise and Fiji’s agricultural potential with the aim of modernising commercial farming, introducing sustainable agro-technology, and building pathways that enhance both local food security and export growth,’’ Investment Fiji said in a statement.
With Fiji less than five hours by flight from Australia’s eastern seaboard, successful agriculture projects will boost the island nation’s economy. There are reports that several Chinese companies are setting up huge warehouse based farm operations in Fiji to supply high quality fruit and vegetables to Australia and Asia.
Given Fiji’s proximity to Australia and inter-agency cooperation on biosecurity and quarantine operations, there are possibilities of additional trade in this area. Tourism operators will also be looking at development opportunities.
Australian tourists are worth as much as $FJD1.5 billion annually and there are increasing opportunities for Fijians to be employed in Australia in the tourism industry.
It’s expected that concerns around labour mobility will be addressed by council members as Fiji’s tourism workers are in high demand in remote Australian towns.
Kamikamica will most likely remind Australians that Fiji is a stable, friendly, economy, with skilled workers and is open for business.
He will drive the government’s intent to lift the rural economy, generate farming technology, create jobs, and offer crucial support to smallholder farmers by connecting them to new markets.