Fiji’s ideal location to be a re-export centre for international businesses to supply products and services to the rest of the Pacific has been stressed to visiting delegates from Thailand.

Investment Fiji chief executive, Godo Müller-Teut, made these comments during the ‘Fiji-Thailand Trade and Investment Business Seminar’ in Suva this week.

“Fiji is located at a very good vantage point while enjoying excellent air and sea connectivity across the region,” he said.

“With direct flights to most parts of the Pacific Islands region, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong as well as Singapore – Fiji has opened up the ASEAN and Indian market and is providing additional connectivity to Europe.

“These connections not only cater to tourist and business travellers but also enable our trading houses to export their commodities in a fast and efficient manner.”

Looking at the balance of trade between the two countries, he said this was firmly in favour of Thailand.

Mr Müller-Teut noted total bilateral trade between Fiji and Thailand amounted to $122.1million.

He said imports from Thailand reached $118.5million and domestic exports to Thailand was $1.3million and reexports $2.3million.

Investment opportunities

The Thai Ambassador based in Canberra, Chirachai Punkrasin, officially opened the seminar.

He said it was imperative his delegation understood and grasped the overview picture of trade and investment in Fiji.

“This seminar will certainly capture all the essential details we need to know,” he said.

“This is before embarking on the site visits to learn and gather first-hand information about Fiji’s strengths and potentials in the agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.”

Mr Müller-Teut said Investment Fiji was witnessing a growing interest from large multinationals.

He said this was given the continued investment in infrastructure, education and training of the Fijian workforce.

He said this has all had implications not only for the attractiveness of Fiji as a location to investors, but also for the quality of inward investment.

The ten-member delegation is led by the Ambassador. The delegation will return home at the end of the week.

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