FIJI’S Building Permits Approval Subsystem under the businessNOW Fiji programme will be launched in October. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications Manoa Kamikamica during the Fourth Working Committee Meeting of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) project.
In a statement from the Ministry, Mr Kamikamica said the system was no longer in the development stage and has now advanced into the critical implementation phase, including user-acceptance testing, staff training and pilot execution.
“This isn’t just a technical rollout, it is a cornerstone reform aimed at boosting public trust, reducing bureaucracy and accelerating investment,” Mr Kamikamica said.
According to the Ministry, the project has already recorded success with the Starting a Business Subsystem, delivering faster processing times and higher adoption rates.
Mr Kamikamica called for intensified efforts from all involved agencies to maintain momentum and ensure operational readiness.
A strong focus was placed on change management and the human factor behind digital reform.
Mr Kamikamica urged swift legislative action, stressing that pending cabinet papers and gazette publications must not delay system functionality. He also reinforced the need for rigorous stakeholder engagement, both internally and externally, to ensure the reform’s long-term success.
He said the initiative was about more than permits or software.
“This is a national priority,” he said. “We must deliver not just a system, but real improvements in how we serve our people and support our economy.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 25, 2025
