DEPUTY Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has praised Lami Kava’s newly renovated Vale Kava lounge that highlights Fiji’s growing push to elevate kava as a premium agricultural export and anchor of rural development.
The boutique kava bar sources waka and lewena directly from multiple regions across Fiji, including rural farmers, cooperatives and MSMEs.
It then processes and blends kava on-site, with premium packaging and a curated consumer experience.
He said that was the type of value chain development the Government wanted to encourage.
“This is the kind of value chain development we want to encourage, one where every actor, from the farmer in Kadavu to the shop assistant in Lami, is part of the same economic story, where businesses serve not just consumers, but also the producers who make it all possible,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“And this is why the Government is putting in place mechanisms to strengthen supply chains, invest in transport and storage infrastructure, and facilitate the aggregation of produce through cooperatives and clusters.”
He also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening supply chains, supporting cooperatives, and investing in transport and storage infrastructure to boost exports like kava.
Meanwhile, the DPM said the business entity was more than just a retail business, but a symbol of economic, cultural and digital transformation.
“It represents a new model of enterprise that embraces quality, leverages technology, and connects our local supply chains with global demand.
“As we step into this modern kava space, we are also stepping into a future where Fiji is more self-reliant, more connected and more competitive.”
He said the opening also aligned with the Government’s broader strategy to diversify Fiji’s economic base, reduce reliance on traditional sectors and boost resilience in the face of global shifts.
“Fiji needs to broaden its economic base, to move beyond over-reliance on traditional sectors and instead unlock the full potential of agriculture, creative industries, value-added manufacturing and services such as tourism.
“This is not just economic theory. It is our lived reality and as global markets shift, as climate and geopolitical risks increase, and as consumer preferences evolve, we must act with foresight.
“As we step into this modern kava space, we’re also stepping into a future where Fiji is more self-reliant, more connected and more competitive.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 16, 2025
