ECONOMIC pressures, bilateral trade policies, and the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprise participation take centre stage as business leaders gather for the 2026 Fiji-Australia and Australia-Fiji Business Councils Joint Business Forum.
The three-day event, running from August 27 to 29 at the Grand Pacific Hotel, has drawn about 200 participants.
Fiji-Australia Business Council president Himen Chandra said continuity in the tourism industry amid global impacts remains a primary economic concern alongside evolving trade policies and market access for Fijian products.
“Are the markets opening up for Fijian products in Australia, especially agriculture? So biosecurity is one issue that we normally talk about,” he said.
Discussions are also focusing on bilateral ties under the Vuvale Partnership. Mr Chandra noted that stakeholders are awaiting insights from the Australian High Commissioner’s session regarding potential policy shifts and announcements.
Addressing practical mechanisms to scale up cross-border trade for small and medium-sized enterprises, Mr Chandra emphasised the importance of accessible information.
“It’s all about getting the right information and answering the information and acting on those information.”
Looking beyond the forum, the council aims to identify mutual market advantages over the next 12 months to ensure discussions translate into measurable economic growth.
Mr Chandra stressed that growth must be reciprocal rather than one-sided, extending beyond tourism and government-level infrastructure support into private sector opportunities.
“We also want to understand where the advantages from a private sector point of view, from SME point of view, from trade point of view, so that is what this conference is all about.”
Outcomes from the conference communique will form the basis of the council’s upcoming action plans.
