MEMBERS of the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council (NZFBC) are on a mission to fulfil their part in the $2billion bilateral trade target by 2030, initially set by the Prime Ministers of the two countries during the first official visit to Fiji by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last year.
This was revealed by Government’s investment marketing arm Investment Fiji in a statement yesterday, ahead of a week-long NZFBC business mission to Fiji scheduled from July 14 to 18.
“This year’s mission builds on the work of our previous missions which is to increase trade and investment,” NZFBC president Chandar Sen said.
“There is also a special focus which is towards meeting the $2 billion trade target that was set in discussions with the business councils during the mission and conference last year in Fiji by our Prime Ministers.”
The business mission will see members connecting with key stakeholders, government agencies and private sector representatives in Suva and Nadi, according to Investment Fiji.
“The NZFBC has been working tirelessly with their counterparts the Fiji Trade Commission to New Zealand and Australia, Investment Fiji and the Fiji Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, to ensure that members travelling for this mission are able to fully utilise this opportunity and strengthen their Vuvale relations,” Investment Fiji stated.
Fiji is being seen as a pivotal trade partner to New Zealand and this mission is in recognition of that.
“This mission offers New Zealand businesses a unique opportunity to gain valuable market insights, explore investment prospects and develop strategies for growth in Fiji’s dynamic economy,” Mr Sen said.
The mission will provide first-hand exposure to Fiji’s evolving business environment and the programme will feature high-level discussions, industry briefings, targeted business matching sessions and strategic networking events.
Fiji has a joint development partnership with New Zealand under the Vuvale Partnership and is New Zealand’s 24th biggest trading partner. New Zealand is also the second major source destination of Fiji’s tourists.
Two-way trade currently stands at about $1.4billion.