The joint Fiji Australia and Australia Fiji Business Council Forum proper starts today at the Grand Pacific Hotel where key trade issues will be at the forefront of discussion.

An impressive lineup of presenters are set to take the podium with topics from finance, tax, draft Companies Act discussion, shipping and freight issues, tourism to garment related issues.

The forum aptly themed ‘Fiji-Australia, Proud History-Promising Horizons’ will set the tone for the sessions, each concluding with a panel discussion.

The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will open the forum this morning at 9am.

Fiji Australia Business Council vice president, Rajeshwar Singh, said the overall aim is to bridge the imbalance of trade between Australia and Fiji where Australia has the upper hand.

Council president, Viliame Leqa said: “Our aim is to mould and rebuild the relationships that we have. It’s about trade facilitation and everything that relates with trade.”

Mr Singh added: “If you put together the number of exports and imports, the total of about $1 billion dollars in merchandise takes place between the two countries.

“The whole idea of hosting the level of forum is basically where we can correct that imbalance so we can do more exports than imports.”

140 participants are expected to converge on the occasion with 40 participants from Australia.

And Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop is expected to arrive in the country today before her presentation with counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubualoa with the concluding the session tomorrow.

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