The Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama has called on the nation to be vigilant about the rate of imports.
He made the comments during the revised budget address at the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority headquarters in Nasese, Suva.
Commodore Bainimarama said while the GDP growth rate is revised to 1.8 percent, the improvements in the economies of our trading partners are expected to spur the re-growth of exports.
“We, however, need to be vigilant about the rate of imports outstripping exports,” he said.
Government through reforms and restructures is playing its part and he says more needs to be done.
“Some of the key measures implemented over the past 6 months have included the commercial management of Government quarters and properties beginning in the Central Division,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
“The reform of Fiji Sugar Corporation has also commenced.”
He said Government is also reorganizing the Government Supplies Department into the Fiji Procurement Office (FPO) which is underway and is expected to be fully operational by September this year.
“The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is now fully operational and the transfer of assets and liabilities to WAF from the Water and Sewerage Department will be completed by August of this year,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
Other restructures will see the reorganization of the Fiji Islands Maritime and Safety Authority (FIMSA) and the Quarantine Department into commercial statutory authorities is expected to be completed within this year.