FIJI’S gross domestic product (GDP) growth will be higher than the country’s trading partners such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The government is on a target to reach 5 per cent GDP growth in the coming years.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association Heads annual meeting in Suva yesterday,
Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Filimoni Waqabaca said the country was expected to grow its GDP to 3.8 per cent.
He said the last time the country achieved this rate was in 2004
“Our GDP has grown from 2.2 per cent in 2012 to 3.6 per cent in 2013.
“The global GDP growth will be 3.6 per cent.
“Ours will be higher than our trading partners such as Australia, which will grow by an estimated 2.8 per cent, New Zealand will grow by an estimated 2.9 per cent and Japan will grow by an estimated 1.7 per cent,” he said.
In 2013, Mr Waqabaca said the concessions offered by the government totalled $300million.
He said they ensured policies were pro-growth, modern, consistent, relevant and empowering people and businesses.
Mr Waqabaca said tax was critical to their governments and to the people of the Pacific.
“The survival of governments and countries depends on you,” Mr Waqabaca said.
