The Fiji Consulate General & Trade Commission Australia, in collaboration with Investment Fiji and the Fiji High Commission to Australia, successfully delivered the Fiji–Australia Business Mission 2026 across Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns, reinforcing the growing strength of bilateral trade and investment ties between Fiji and Australia. Led by the Honourable Minister for Finance, Commerce & Business Development, Hon. Esrom Immanuel, and Assistant Minister Hon. Sachida Nand, the mission brought together government officials, private sector exporters, investors and members of the Fijian diaspora to explore new opportunities and deepen strategic partnerships.

The mission commenced in Melbourne with a strong focus on market access, investment promotion and diaspora engagement. A key visit to Vinay’s Foods, founded by Mr. Vinay Reddy, demonstrated the increasing demand for Fijian agricultural products within the Australian market. Discussions highlighted the potential to expand exports of products such as cowpeas, frozen plantain, cassava and shredded coconut, while also emphasising the need to scale local production facilities in Fiji. The presence of Fijian exporters within the delegation enabled direct engagement with distributors, creating a more efficient pathway from Fijian farms to Australian consumers. Plans to expand operations in Labasa, Vanua Levu, further underscored the role of private sector partnerships in driving employment and economic growth in Fiji.

The Melbourne Business Forum provided a dynamic platform for dialogue between Fiji’s official delegation, private sector and Australian investors. In his opening remarks, Fiji High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Mr. Ajay Bhai Amrit, reaffirmed that Fiji is open for business, grounded in trust and mutual benefit, and noted the strength of the Fiji–Australia partnership. The Honourable Minister highlighted Fiji’s position as a vibrant economic hub, encouraging investors to view Fiji not only as a destination, but as a place that offers strong returns on investment. Panel discussions and roundtables explored key sectors including tourism, manufacturing and outsourcing, while also addressing practical considerations such as land leasing, regulatory processes and biosecurity pathways, providing investors with the clarity and confidence needed to engage in Fiji’s market. The delegation also engaged with the St Kilda Football Club, reinforcing a strategic partnership that integrates sports tourism with foreign direct investment. The Melbourne leg concluded with a Business Networking Reception hosted in partnership with St Kilda, bringing together investors, partners and diaspora, and marking an important milestone with the announcement of the upcoming Bula Games to be hosted in Melbourne.

In Adelaide, the mission shifted focus towards building institutional partnerships and fostering innovation-driven investment. A productive roundtable with BDO South Australia explored opportunities across sectors including energy, manufacturing, food processing, defence and real estate development. Discussions highlighted the alignment between Fiji’s development priorities and South Australia’s technical expertise, particularly in renewable energy and advanced industries. Engagements with the Adelaide Economic Development Agency provided valuable insights into city development, innovation ecosystems and urban revitalisation, with discussions exploring the potential for a “twinning” relationship between Adelaide and Suva to facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen collaboration. The Adelaide Business Forum further reinforced Fiji’s role as a regional hub for trade and investment, with strong participation from the local business community in areas such as agri-tech, manufacturing and supply chain development. The delegation also visited the Northern Adelaide Plains Food Cluster, gaining first-hand exposure to advanced agricultural systems such as protected cropping and smart irrigation. These insights highlighted significant opportunities for Fiji to modernise its agricultural sector, strengthen food security and expand export capacity, positioning the country as a key supplier within the Pacific region.

The final leg of the mission in Cairns focused on advancing opportunities in marine services, logistics and tourism investment, capitalising on the natural synergies between Fiji and Far North Queensland. The Cairns Business Forum brought together logistics operators, port authorities and investors to explore high-value collaborations aligned with Fiji’s ambition to become a regional export and maritime hub. Site visits to leading facilities including Norship, Austal Service Centre, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Cairns Airport and Tourism Tropical North Queensland provided valuable insights into infrastructure, operational models and investment frameworks required to drive Fiji’s blue economy. Opportunities were identified in ship repair and maintenance, with the potential for Fiji to position itself as a premier Pacific hub for maritime services. Discussions also highlighted the importance of sustainable investment models, workforce development and supply chain integration, with a strong emphasis on building local capacity and creating high-value employment opportunities. Lessons from Cairns will inform Fiji’s efforts to modernise infrastructure, adopt high-efficiency operational systems and attract global investment into its maritime and tourism sectors.

Across all three cities, the Fiji–Australia Business Mission 2026 demonstrated the strength of the partnership between Fiji and Australia and the growing interest in Fiji as a competitive and reliable investment destination. Engagement with the Fijian diaspora played a critical role throughout the mission, reinforcing its position as a key bridge between the two economies and a catalyst for trade and investment flows. The mission successfully created platforms for meaningful engagement, facilitated new business connections and generated tangible opportunities for collaboration across priority sectors.

As Fiji continues to position itself as a regional hub for trade, investment and innovation, the outcomes of this mission will contribute to building a resilient, inclusive and forward-looking economy. The Fiji Consulate General & Trade Commission Australia remains committed to supporting these partnerships and ensuring that the momentum generated translates into long-term economic growth and shared prosperity for both Fiji and Australia.

Vinaka Vakalevu.