Fiji is looking at joint initiatives with Indonesia to enlarge economic engagement with South East Asia which would pave the way for integration with the global economy.

This comment was made by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya during the Indonesia-Fiji Business Forum organised by the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and sponsored by the Indonesian Embassy.

The forum was also attended by the Indonesian Ambassador, Dr Gary Joseph and Minister for Local Government Praveen Kumar.

“The Fijian Government views Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia, as a strategic partner that can play an important role in our “Look North Policy”.

“If we are able to dovetail with Indonesia’s “Look East Policy”, our joint initiatives will collectively provide an opportunity to significantly enlarge our economic engagement with Indonesia and South East Asia.

This, he said will pave the way for integration with the global economy whilst helping to build a stable regional economic order that reaches out to the greater Pacific.

Mr Koya said they share interests in a number of areas, which include trade, empowerment of women, growth of micro, small and medium enterprises and cooperatives,

“While we share so many interests, we also have so much to offer one another in building strategic business partnerships.”

He said the Fijian Government had set a strong foundation for trade and to flourish.

“It was the role of the business community to capitalize on the conducive environment and the many opportunities that existed between Fiji and Indonesia.

“The economic policy focus of the Fijian Government is towards diversifying on traditional exports, development of the tourism sector holistically, creating robust small and medium enterprises and attraction of higher levels of foreign investments.”

Mr Koya said Government was fully committed to encouraging greater diversification of the Fijian economy and creating new pillars of growth so that there was no overly reliant on one or two sectors.

“Therefore, it is important that we attract high-value investments in these sectors, to take advantage of incentives provide.”

Edited by: Farzana Nisha