As part of Fiji’s Trade and Investment Mission to New Zealand, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, today held a high-level business dialogue with Pacific-focused leaders and professional services partners at the Auckland offices of Grant Thornton New Zealand.
The engagement brought together senior representatives from McConnell Dowell, DECA, FNPF, BSP Life, and Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) for an open and action-oriented discussion on unlocking investment opportunities and addressing constraints to doing business in Fiji.
“Fiji is serious about investment — and we are reforming to match that seriousness. We are here to build bankable partnerships that deliver for both our countries and our region,” stated Hon. Kamikamica.
Targeted Opportunities, Strategic Reforms
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined Fiji’s consistent 3–4% economic growth, robust macroeconomic fundamentals, and a pipeline of private sector investment in excess of FJD $6 billion. He identified clear areas for partnership — including tourism, agriculture, renewable energy, construction, and digital services — and reaffirmed government efforts to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and improve investor confidence.
Reforms underway include:
• The National Single Window System to digitise trade approvals
• The Building Permit Approval System (BPAS) for faster infrastructure permitting
• Rollout of National Digital ID and e-KYC to streamline compliance and onboarding
Building Talent, Not Just Infrastructure
The Deputy Prime Minister and participants discussed the pressing need to grow Fiji’s professional and technical skills base. DECA and others highlighted engineering and trades capability gaps, prompting strong support for a New Zealand–Fiji agricultural trainee exchange programme. The DPM reiterated Fiji’s readiness to develop its human capital alongside physical infrastructure.
Private Sector Leadership: Project Pipelines on the Table
Senior representatives from key Fijian institutions outlined a series of investable projects:
• McConnell Dowell expressed readiness to anchor operations in Fiji, starting with the MFAT Chancery Project.
• BSP Life highlighted its $1 billion portfolio, including a $500 million tourism and commercial precinct.
• Fijian Holdings Ltd. outlined investments in hotels, a new cement plant, and digital platforms.
• EFL shared Fiji’s pathway to 100% renewable energy within the next decade, backed by a $1 billion green energy roadmap.
Shared Vision: Duavata in Action
The meeting closed with a shared commitment to turning ideas into implementation. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Grant Thornton for hosting the dialogue and praised the tone of candour, collaboration, and confidence in Fiji’s future.
“Let’s move from potential to partnerships. The door is open, the groundwork is laid, and Fiji stands ready to deliver,” he concluded.