Over 200 delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and across Fiji gathered at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva from 29 August to 31 August 2024 for the 28th Fiji-Australia Business Council (FABC) and Australia-Fiji Business Council (AFBC) Joint Business Forum.

The forum was attended by government representatives, business leaders, industry experts, and professionals, reflecting the strong economic ties between Fiji and Australia. Three Fijian Ministers delivered keynote addresses, including the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, who officiated the forum’s opening.

Fiji’s Acting Prime Minister emphasised the deep connections between Fiji and Australia, particularly in addressing new economic challenges and opportunities. FABC President Vera Chute highlighted the importance of the forum in fostering dialogue and collaboration, stating, “The participation of so many underscores the deep and enduring ties that Australia and Fiji share and provides us with a unique opportunity to address new challenges.”

Australian Acting High Commissioner Clair McNamara underscored the importance of the renewed Vuvale Partnership, signed in October 2023. This partnership is a significant step towards building both nations’ resilient and sustainable economic future. McNamara announced that over FJD 157.3 million had been secured through new grant agreements to support various initiatives under the partnership’s five pillars, further solidifying the importance of this alliance.

The forum featured engaging presentations on key economic developments, including Fiji’s inclusion in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), making it the only Pacific Island nation in an agreement representing 40% of the world’s GDP and one-third of global trade. Other notable discussions included investment opportunities in Fiji’s infrastructure sector, valued at FJD 6 billion through 2030, and a consolidated infrastructure pipeline worth FJD 1.7 billion, made available by Austrade.

The event also shed light on the Government of Fiji’s ongoing immigration reform, investment projects in the renewable energy sector, and significant developments in tourism, including the launch of the Na Vualiku Project, a sustainable tourism initiative funded by the World Bank.

The forum concluded with AFBC President Allison Haworth West inviting delegates to the next forum in Australia in 2025, reinforcing the importance of continued business engagement and partnership.

For more information and to view the Deputy Prime Minister’s remarks, visit the Facebook link here.