THERE will be no return to business as usual, says Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya.
He made the comment in his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Koya said Fiji would have to formulate a new way of doing business and this would require innovative and new ways of thinking and technologies in light of the far-reaching impact of COVID-19.
He said COVID-19 could be a way of “bhagwan, God or Allah’s” way of stopping what had become a routine for most people.
Mr Koya said the new Fiji would require everyone to stop and rethink how we do things and how we will build a new and stronger country.
He said the road to recovery would be difficult and the country would have to band together to prove it was up to the task of successfully combatting and recovering from COVID-19.
“This will not go away in a short span of time.”
Mr Koya said it would require tenacity and hard work to get through the COVID-19 crisis.
He said Fiji would have to work to formulate a new path, of inclusivity and togetherness, if the country was to successfully navigate the economic fallout from the virus.
Government, he said, was already in discussions and consultations with various sectors of the economy to help Fiji map a way through the economic challenges posed by COVID-19.
He said in-depth discussions had been held with numerous organisations including the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association and others.
Mr Koya said, so far, the discussions had led to the development of an economic recovery strategy and among the strategies recommended are diversification of the economy, increased emphasis on manufacturing, values chains and market access – especially in the tourism bubbles being discussed.
He said the findings of a survey of 3500 businesses, including small and medium enterprises, on the impact of COVID-19 on business and workers, would be released in a few weeks.
Mr Koya said the results of the survey would allow Government to formulate targeted policies and assistance programs for businesses.
