Government has acknowledged a growing interest from former citizens and the Fijian diaspora in investing back home, and says it is taking active steps to make the process easier.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad made the comment while responding to questions on recent legal reforms related to “trust setups” and “investment incentives” for former citizens.
“There is a lot of interest from our diaspora outside of Fiji,” Prof Prasad said during a post-budget breakfast in Suva on Saturday.
“We’re trying to do as much as we can to make it easier for our people to come back, live, decide and invest in Fiji.”
He confirmed that changes to trust laws, which were initially meant for former citizens, would also apply to residents.
“The only answer is yes. It will also apply to the residents.”
Prof Prasad outlined several measures already introduced to support diaspora engagement, including a reduction in citizenship fees from $3450 to $1500.
He also pointed to past legal reforms that allow descendants of Fijians, including those registered in the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB), to return and settle in Fiji without the need for a passport, provided they can prove familial links to citizens at the time of independence.
“This is all an attempt to create a much easier environment or process for our people to come and invest.”
He said Fiji is beginning to see the results of these targeted efforts, with increased diaspora-led investments across various sectors.
