All about balance: PM assures

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured Fijians that today’s National Budget will be a “balanced” one.

Mr Rabuka said Fijians could expect a carefully crafted Budget to reflect the country’s economic pressures while responding to public demands for cost-of-living relief and improved services.

“The upcoming budget will take into account the rising cost of living, global price fluctuations, and our current debt levels,” Mr Rabuka said in a pre-budget statement yesterday.

His words come as the Government prepares to table its third national budget since taking office—arguably its most critical yet, as inflation continues to bite and families demand real change.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad had earlier told the Fiji Sun during that the budget would build on the momentum of the past two years, with a clear focus on shielding the country from looming global economic shocks.

“We are in a much stronger position to tackle the expected global economic slowdown,” Mr Prasad said.

He pointed to major risks including the Iran-Israel and Ukraine wars, tariff disputes, and inflationary pressure on small economies like Fiji’s, which rely heavily on tourism, remittances, and foreign investment.

“This will be a budget that anticipates some of those headwinds,” he said.

“We are very mindful to ensure our domestic policies cushion the impact.”

Fiji’s economy, he said, had grown by around four per cent in 2024, surpassing the original forecast of 2.8 per cent—giving the Government room to slightly increase spending and adjust the deficit while keeping debt manageable.

“There will be no big surprises, but there will be good news in the budget for everybody,” he added.

Mr Prasad also confirmed that public calls for increased social welfare allowances and greater support for vulnerable communities had been heard and carefully considered.

“We listened very carefully to the submissions. We may not be able to do everything this year, but we’ve received some very good ideas,” he said.

He praised the high number and quality of submissions from across society—from professional bodies to ordinary Fijians.

“That’s the beauty of creating an environment where people feel free to speak up,” he said.

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