THIRTY-SEVEN New Zealand businesses are in the country as part of the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council (NZFJBC) mission to Fiji ahead of the council’s joint meeting with its Fijian counterpart at the end of this week in Nadi.
Headlined “Two billion reasons for being here”, a reminder of its ambitious target to achieve $2 billion in two-way trade between the two countries by 2030, the council’s Fiji business mission is taking place against a backdrop of significant decline in global business confidence with high uncertainty in the global economy due to the protracted conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted the global supply of energy and other important commodities such as fertilisers.
Speaking at the opening of its two-day meet in Suva before its members head off to Nadi tomorrow for the annual joint conference on Friday with the Fiji-New Zealand Business Council, NZFJBC president Chandar Sen said their missions to Fiji have been well supported and well received on a consistent basis.
“This year is no exception. We were expecting – with the cost of living crisis, fuel prices and airfare — that if we had 20, we have a good mission. Well, we got 37, so we have a great mission.
“And that simply reflects the strong and continuing interest in New Zealand businesses wanting to strengthen New Zealand-Fijian business relationships. I mean, why wouldn’t you do business, if you were a Fijian business, with New Zealand?
“You do want to do business with honest, fair trading companies and New Zealand ranks 1, 2, 3 in anti-corruption, transparency, and is the number two place (in the world) to live,” Mr Sen said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Sakiasi Ditoka, in his capacity as chief guest at the event, said the Fiji-New Zealand partnership was not static but evolving, and capable of delivering significantly greater value in the years ahead.
“At a time when the global economy continues to face uncertainty and rapid transformation, the decision to come to Fiji to engage directly with our businesses and to explore new partnerships demonstrates the importance of trusted relationships and long-term thinking,” Mr Ditoka said.
“More importantly, it also reflects a shared understanding that the Fiji-New Zealand partnership is not static, but evolving, and capable of delivering significantly greater value in the years ahead.”
He said Fiji’s exports to New Zealand were valued at about $150 million in 2025 while imports from New Zealand stood at around $1.03 billion.
“In the same period, visitor arrivals from New Zealand reached approximately 220,000 visitors, generating around $634 million in tourism earnings.
“New Zealand accounts for about 21 per cent of all tourist arrivals to Fiji, making it the second largest source market, just out of Australia.
“This reflects a strong and trusted trading relationship and also highlights the opportunity to further expand Fiji’s export base, move up value chains, and diversify the range of products and services we offer to the New Zealand market.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the opportunities before us are real, immediate, and growing.”
