WHATEVER ups and downs may affect our government to government relationships from time to time, well developed business links should continue to exist and thrive, says Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
Ms Fierravanti-Wells said she indicated this to the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and added that it was important that the two countries ensured the right framework existed for them to thrive.
“The good news is that demand for Fiji goods remains strong in Australia and New Zealand and vice versa,” she said.
“And we all stand to benefit from the enormous economic dynamism and potential of our wider Asia Pacific and Indo-Pacific region.”
She said the conference would help participants grow and strengthen what were already enduring business relationships and how to build new partnerships and new wealth.
“Fiji remains a very promising place to do business. This is no accident,” she said.
Rather, she added it was the result of the diversity of Fiji’s economic mix, which included tourism, construction, financial services, ICT services, a range of fresh and processed exports, a healthy garments sector and more.
“Your recovery is the result of hard work, by businesses such as those in the room, to remain competitive in the face of sometimes rapidly changing circumstances.
“Your economic resilience is also a result of the Fiji Government policies over the past few years which have seen Fiji progress along the road of serious economic reform.
“Work being done to rationalise and improve the performance of state-owned enterprises is a perfect example.”
