Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad says the 2024-2025 National Budget ensures an economically stable, secure and sustainable Fiji.
He was the keynote speaker at the post budget forum organised by Dialogue Fiji at the Tanoa Plaza in Suva on Monday (1.7.24).
“In terms of growing the economy, we have listened very carefully to the private sector. We have listened to their challenges that they have faced with respect to the labour market,” he said.
“We are losing people at a very very significant rate.”
Government officials, policymakers, economists, financial analysts, business and industry leaders and other stakeholders were part of this forum dissecting the 2024-25 National Budget.
He also highlighted on the hard work done by other ministries and the need to do more to lift up service delivery. Speaking on scholarships, he said the ministry had written off $650million debt last year for more than 53,000 students. He spoke about issues facing depopulation, shortage of skills, challenges in our major trading partner economies and other issues staring Fiji in the face.
The forum provided a platform for stakeholders from various sectors to dissect and deliberate on the 2024-25 National Budget presented on June 28, 2024.