The Nadi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NCCI) has welcomed the appointment of Dr Radika Kumar as permanent secretary for Commerce and Business Development, a role she assumed on May 4, 2026.”As one of the most active and vibrant chambers in the country, the Nadi Chamber of Commerce & Industry looks forward to working closely with Dr Kumar in taking Nadi — the tourism capital of Fiji — forward for all stakeholders,” NCCI president Lawrence Kumar said in a statement.
“The NCCI, which represents businesses across Nadi and the broader tourism corridor, sees Dr Kumar’s appointment as a positive development for the sector, given her expertise in trade policy, digital economics and international development.
“The Chamber expresses confidence that her leadership will support the growth of Nadi’s business community and strengthen Fiji’s position as the tourism and commerce hub of the Pacific,” Mr Kumar said.
According to the chamber, Dr Kumar, who hails from Visama in Nausori,began her public service career in Fiji, serving across several key ministries and agencies before representing Fiji internationally as deputy permanent representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva.
“In that role, she played a central part in multilateral trade negotiations, advancing Fiji’s interests at global and regional forums.”
“She was also the first Fijian and Pacific representative selected as a National Trade Adviser under the EU-funded Hubs and Spokes Programme, managed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she led the development of the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ first National Export Strategy.”
Dr Kumar holds a PhD in Economics, a Master of Economics, an MBA, a Master’s degree in Big Data and Business Intelligence from the European Business School of Barcelona, and a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Oxford. She also holds undergraduate qualifications in Accounting, Financial Management and Economics from the University of the South Pacific.
The appointment was confirmed by the Public Service Commission (PSC), with the agreement of the Prime Minister.
PSC chairman Luke Rokovada noted that Dr Kumar brings with her more than 18 years of national, regional and international leadership experience across trade, economic policy and development.
In her new role, Dr Kumar will oversee the functions of the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development (formerly Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications) which looks after cooperatives, investment, MSMEs, national trade measurement and standards, and business development sectors.
The Ministry is headed by Esrom Immanuel, who is also the Minister for Finance.
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NCCI president Lawrence Kumar. Picture: NCCI/SUPPLIED
