The trade target between Fiji and New Zealand is expected to reach $2billion by 2030, says Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna.
He told Parliament on Thursday the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, had discussed about this in their bilateral meeting earlier this year.
He said the recent “scoping mission” undertaken by Ministry of Agriculture senior officials, led by the minister’s office to New Zealand from November 15 to the 23 of this year, was aimed at strengthening Fiji’s food security, climate resilience, and market competitiveness.
“The primary objectives of this scoping mission was to explore strategic partnerships in modern agriculture, including technology, mechanisation, and climate-smart farming practices,” Mr Tunabuna said.
He said the aim was also to strengthen collaboration in water management and watershed protection, drawing from New Zealand’s proven models of integrated water governance, to identify new and expanded export market opportunities for Fiji’s agricultural products, particularly high-value crops, and to develop pathways for agricultural education, capacity building, and technical exchange between our two countries.
“During the mission, the Fiji delegation engaged with a spectrum of government agencies, distributors, research institutions, business councils and growers.
“The scoping mission to New Zealand reinforces Fiji’s commitment to transforming our agriculture sector from a system vulnerable to climate shocks into one that is resilient, technology-driven, market-oriented, and capable of delivering prosperity for every Fijian household.”
