Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communications

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒!

The Ministry of Commerce and Business Development reminds all businesses and co-operatives across Fiji that the Business Impact Survey on Rising Fuel Costs will close on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.

If rising fuel prices have affected your operating costs, transportation, logistics, supply chains, or overall business performance, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard.

✅ Open to all businesses and co-operatives across Fiji
✅ Takes only 7–10 minutes to complete
✅ Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregated form
✅ Your feedback will help inform analysis and evidence-based policy discussions

Every response matters. Help us better understand the challenges facing Fijian businesses and contribute to informed decision-making for the future.

📌 Scan the QR code in the image or click on the link: https://bit.ly/3Qq1DKC or contact [email protected] for details before the deadline.

𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

The transition of Fiji’s tourism sector toward sustainable, high-quality development is being focused on to ensure economic gains extend deep into local communities.

Addressing international delegates, investors, and hotel brands during the closing of the AHICE Fiji Investment in Tourism Conference in Nadi today, Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development, Hon. Sachida Nand, highlighted Government's commitment to creating a highly competitive, transparent, and responsive investment ecosystem.

“Tourism has long been a pillar of our Nation’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and creating opportunities for our communities,” said Hon Nand.

“However, today’s tourism industry is increasingly driven by innovation, meaningful partnership, resilience and sustainability and as such, these very ecosystems drivers are the enabler towards the multiplier effect of the tourism sector,” stated the Assistant Minister. “The tourism landscape across the Asia-Pacific region is changing rapidly as modern travellers seek environmentally responsible destinations and authentic cultural immersion.”

To meet these evolving demands, continuous infrastructure investment is being actively facilitated by the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development, in close collaboration with Investment Fiji and relevant Government agencies.

“We understand that investment decisions require confidence, transparency, and efficient processes.”

“Through policy reforms, regulatory improvements, and enhanced collaboration with the private sector, we continue to strengthen Fiji's competitiveness as an investment destination.”

"Fiji does not seek growth for its own sake; rather, we seek investments that create enduring value," Hon. Sachida Nand stated. "Economic growth must go hand in hand with environmental stewardship and social responsibility."

The Assistant Minister adds that the metrics of the modern tourism industry have shifted, meaning success can no longer be evaluated solely by counting visitor arrivals or hotel occupancy rates. He noted that the sector acts as a powerful economic catalyst, driving both forward and backward value chains that directly benefit domestic cooperatives, small-scale agriculturalists, MSMEs, and retail businesses.

He further reiterated that the true benefits of major tourism investments must cross resort boundaries to ensure economic returns flow directly into nearby villages and towns.

“When local enterprises are successfully integrated into major commercial operations, the broader economy becomes far more resilient and communities thrive.”

"Our strategic location, stable institutions, skilled workforce, and welcoming investment climate position Fiji as an ideal gateway for tourism investment in the Pacific region," Hon. Nand emphasised.

"The Fiji Government stands ready to facilitate productive partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic development."

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Fiji’s economic landscape is receiving a foundational boost as returning seasonal workers transition from offshore employment into local business ownership. This shift marks a deliberate structural effort by Government to anchor regional earnings back into the domestic economy.

Speaking at the conclusion of a three-day intensive Generate Your Business Idea and Start Your Business (SIYB) workshop, Permanent Secretary Dr. Radika Kumar highlighted the successful graduation of the program's third cohort. Facilitated by the MSME Fiji unit in partnership with the Pacific Mobility Support Programme and the Ministry of Employment, the initiative equipped 14 participants - 11 women and 3 men - with critical entrepreneurial toolkits.

"When returning workers are supported to invest their savings, skills, and experience into productive sectors, they contribute not only to their own households, but also to their communities," Dr. Kumar emphasised, noting that such micro-level ventures build vital national economic resilience.

The core logic behind this strategy centres on the structural realities of overseas work. Labor mobility provides individual families with significant financial injections, yet sustained development requires turning those temporary savings into long-term assets.

By providing structured training in record-keeping, micro-finance, and localised business planning, Government aims to bridge this exact gap.

Director of the National Employment Centre (NEC) Mr Lui Mario expanded on this paradigm, framing labor mobility as an inherently collective household journey.

“Because the temporary migration of a parent alters familial dynamics, the reintegration phase acts as a necessary bridge to stabilise households,” he said.
“While some participants are slated to head back overseas for subsequent contract terms, the acquired commercial skillsets offer a concrete roadmap for eventual permanent resettlement.”

For individuals on the ground, the immediate impact of the program is clear. Saverio Malocake, a program participant, shared that before the sessions, he had very little understanding of commercial operations.

"The training has actually inspired me to think about and explore new opportunities into the business world," he stated, pointing to newfound competencies in business planning and structured financial recording.

With upcoming training cohorts scheduled for deployment to the Northern Division, Government plans to scale this structural pipeline, reinforcing the foundational role micro-enterprises play in sustaining Fiji's macroeconomic baseline.