Permanent Secretary for Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications, Mr Shaheen Ali

CEO Investment Fiji, Mr Kamal Chetty

President of the New Zealand Fiji Business Council, Mr Chandar Sen

Senior Officials, Business Leaders, Industry Experts

Ladies and Gentlemen

Kia Ora, Bula Vinaka and warm greetings to you all.

It is a real pleasure to be here in Wellington, a city that feels both familiar and inspiring. And it is an even greater honour to be here leading Fiji’s business delegation, a group of entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who represent the very best of our islands.

This mission is a continuation of our shared journey – one that began with the historic inaugural trade and investment mission that I led in March 2023, held right here in Auckland and Wellington.

That mission marked a turning point in our bilateral economic engagement, and today, we take the next bold step forward.

Regional Momentum and Fiji’s Readiness

By September 2024, that momentum carried us to Rotorua, where I joined Minister Todd McClay of New Zealand and Minister Don Farrell of Australia for a first-of-its-kind trilateral trade dialogue.

Standing together in that room, it was clear that the Pacific is no longer just a market on the edge – it is becoming a hub of cooperation, innovation and shared opportunities under frameworks 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy and concepts such as Duavata and Vuvale.

Since then, Fiji has not stood still. We have been deliberate in our actions: taking real steps to grow trade, attract investment and make it easier to do business in Fiji.

We’ve strengthened whole-of-government coordination through our Investment Facilitation Committee, ensuring that when investors bring us projects, they don’t get stuck in silos – they get solutions.

And today, I can proudly say Fiji is shaping a business environment that listens to investors, learns from global best practice, and leads with credibility.

Because we know from experience – investment doesn’t flow just because of incentives. It flows when businesses feel confident – when they see consistency, stability, and a country that honours its commitments.

People and Trust: The Foundation of our Relationship

When I walked into this room this morning, I didn’t just see New Zealanders and Fijians. I saw neighbours, partners and friends who already know each other’s stories.

That’s what makes this gathering special. We’re not starting from zero – we’re building on relationships that already run deep, from rugby fields to classrooms, from boardrooms to beaches.

Fiji and New Zealand share a closeness that most countries would envy. We laugh together, we work together, and yes – sometimes we even argue like family. But when the chips are down, whether it’s a cyclone in Fiji or an earthquake in New Zealand, we show up for each other.

That trust – that instinct to stand shoulder to shoulder – is the foundation of our economic relationship.

Trade Performance and the $2 Billion Opportunity

Thousands of Fijians live and work here, contributing to your economy and communities. Thousands more New Zealanders travel to Fiji each year – not just as tourists seeking sun and Bula smiles, but increasingly as investors, entrepreneurs and partners.

Trade between our countries has seen consistent and promising growth. Last year, trade in goods between our two countries reached FJ$1.2 billion.

But this growth is not yet balanced. Fiji’s exports to New Zealand were just FJ$136.85 million, while our imports stood at over FJ$1 billion. That’s a trade deficit of over FJ$880 million.

That’s why we are here – not just to admire the relationship, but to strengthen and rebalance it.

Earlier this year, our Prime Ministers – Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka and Honourable Christopher Luxon – committed to doubling our trade, setting a bold but achievable goal of NZ$2 billion by 2030.

This ambition has now been backed by a joint roadmap from our respective business councils – formally presented and received earlier this year by myself and New Zealand’s Associate Minister for Trade, Honourable Nicola Grigg. That plan is now on the table. It is time to deliver.

Agriculture: From Farmers to Formal Buyers

Let me speak to you as a fellow economic pragmatist about where real commercial opportunities lie for New Zealand companies in Fiji – and how your capital, know-how and networks can align with our momentum.

Fiji is fertile, rain-fed and open for business in agriculture. We already export ginger, turmeric, taro, papaya, pineapples and other fresh produce into the New Zealand market. But the next step is value and structure.

We are ready for partners in cold chain logistics, packhouses, and processing ventures that convert cassava, breadfruit or pineapples into stable, exportable products.

We are also inviting New Zealand buyers to work directly with our farmers – under outgrower or contract farming models – with pre-agreed quality, volumes and prices. These models already work in ginger and taro. Let us scale them up – to other crops, and other regions.

This means reducing risk, improving traceability, and enabling rural farmers to become consistent suppliers to supermarket chains, food service operators and niche buyers in New Zealand.

So if you're in agritech, logistics, or processing – there’s an opportunity to co-create real, lasting value.

Tourism: From Destination to Experience Economy

Tourism is back. Visitor earnings in 2024 surpassed FJD 2.5 billion. But the most exciting opportunities lie beyond hotel beds.

The future is experiential – in eco-lodges, marine reserves, and wellness retreats.

Savusavu and Natewa Bay are prime locations for community-based investment, with landowners ready to contribute land and labour.

We also see opportunities in adventure-based tourism – surfing infrastructure in Cloudbreak, hiking and trail development in Levuka, and nature-based wellness in our highlands.

New Zealand is a global leader in this space. We invite you to bring that expertise to Fiji – to co-create with our communities.

Energy: Powering Green Growth

Fiji currently generates 60% of its electricity from renewables. Our target is 100% by 2034–2036.

In January this year, we commissioned the Mua Solar Farm on Taveuni – now powering two-thirds of the island.

We are looking for New Zealand partners in solar, geo-thermal, battery storage, modular biogas systems, and smart grid innovation.

Resorts and municipalities are also seeking waste-to-energy solutions, especially for organic waste.

These are practical, bankable opportunities – not theoretical concepts.

Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity

We are no longer talking about going digital – we are doing it.

Google is building a FJD 200 million ICT facility in Natadola. Four new subsea cables will connect us to Australia, Japan, the United States and beyond.

Our businessNOW FIJI platform is already enabling company registrations, licensing and compliance through a single digital front door.

Our building approval system is going online by October.

The Fiji Trade Information Portal is already live. And our Fiji National Single Window will unify all cross-border trade procedures under one platform.

For investors in BPO, fintech, digital trade, or tech-enabled services – this is no longer a future ambition. It is live infrastructure, ready for use.

One Front Door. One Digital Track. One Team.

To make sure this all works in practice, we’ve created an Investment Facilitation Committee – a whole-of-government body that ensures strategic projects get the full support they need.

The idea is simple: investors shouldn’t face silos – they should be given solutions.

So what does this all mean for you?

It means speed to green-light – with clear timelines and digital submissions.

It means lower risk at the border – with transparent trade rules and electronic clearance.

It means modern infrastructure – with resilient digital connectivity.

And it means policy certainty – with credible laws and global partners backing our path.

So let me leave you with this simple promise:

Come to Fiji with a credible project, and you’ll find one front door, one digital track, and one team committed to getting you to “yes” – and keeping you there with predictable rules and responsive agencies.

Closing: From Dialogue to Delivery

This mission is not just about transactions. It is about shaping the next chapter of the Duavata Partnership – our formal framework with New Zealand, signed in 2022 and refreshed earlier this year.

Let us be clear-eyed about our goal. NZ$2 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 is not a slogan. It is a strategic target – anchored in trade growth, investment flows and tangible benefits across supply chains.

The roadmap has been agreed. The political will exists. The private sector is engaged. Now, it is time to turn dialogue into delivery.

Fiji offers opportunity. Fiji offers stability. Fiji offers a Government that listens, acts, and delivers.

But more than that – Fiji offers partnership - steeped in Duavata spirit.

Vinaka vaka levu. Thank you. May God Bless New Zealand. May God bless Fiji. May God Bless our Partnership.

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