TOP officials from the Fijian government and statutory bodies are set to be key speakers at the 29th Australia-Fiji Business Forum, taking place next week from October 22-24 at the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel on the Gold Coast, Australia. This prominent annual event, organized by the Australia-Fiji Business Council (AFBC), aims to foster discussions and enhance bilateral trade.
Among the confirmed speakers is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica, who will be delivering one of the two keynote addresses. He will be joined by several other influential figures, including Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna, who is expected to focus on strategies for expanding Fiji’s agricultural exports. The lineup also features Niranjwan Chettiar, Director of Projects at Fiji Airports, discussing the necessity of engineering resilient infrastructure in Fiji.
Investment Fiji’s Chief Executive Kamal Chetty will speak on driving investment and export growth, while Josefa Wivou, Executive Director of Outsource Fiji, will highlight efforts to position Fiji as a global outsourcing hub. The tentative schedule lists additional speakers such as Finance Minister Biman Prasad, KPMG Fiji’s Managing Partner Lisa Apted, and various other leaders from agencies, all of whom will address critical topics relevant to Fiji’s economic landscape.
The two-day forum will cover several key subjects, including promoting the growth of Fijian businesses, investment opportunities, and discussions around infrastructure development, digital transformation, and climate funding. Himen Chandra, president of the Fiji Australia Business Council (FABC), expressed enthusiasm about the event, noting the positive feedback from registered delegates representing both private and government sectors. He emphasized the importance of dialogue between Australian and New Zealand businesses with their Fijian counterparts, aiming to promote Fijian products in international markets.
This forum represents a continuation of previous successful gatherings, such as the recent 28th Joint Business Forum held in Suva, where officials acknowledged the strong collaborative spirit between Fiji and Australia, and laid the groundwork for new investments and partnerships across various sectors, benefiting both economies.
As officials prepare to engage in fruitful discussions, the event is poised to contribute significantly to enhancing business relationships and establishing new pathways for economic collaboration between Fiji and Australia, promoting hope for mutual growth in the years ahead.