Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes says there have been preliminary discussions with business and manufacturing industries around diversification and potential partnerships.

This as the island neighbour shows interest to support economic activities in Fiji’s business and agricultural sectors through the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership.

“I think the manufacturing sector, in the wake of COVID-19, has seen people looking to diversify their supply chains and Fiji with one of the only manufacturing sectors within the Pacific is well placed there,” Mr Feakes said in a Government statement.

“I had a number of virtual discussions with the Fiji Australia Business Council – one which was chaired by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

“There is interest on part of the Australian business community that operates in Fiji. And the Australian business community that is resident in Australia and has invested in Fiji is looking for opportunities and I hope that some of those come to fruition.”

He said Australia was working closely with the Fijian Government on mapping a way forward to revive Fiji’s tourism industry.

“Tourism remains critically important and our focus in the immediate will be on establishing the arrangements that can allow the Australian tourists to visit Fiji, as in the past some 350,000 Australian tourists visited Fiji each year and we’re looking to get those tourists back as quickly as we can but it will take some time,” Mr Feakes said.