Eat Local To Counter High Cost Of Imported Food Items: Acting PM

Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has encouraged Fijians to consume more local produce.

He said this to counter the current hike of imported food prices.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to queries during the Talanoa session at Dawara and Wailevu East Primary Schools on Tuesday.

He said the increase in raw material and freight costs had led to the imported food products being expensive now.

The Minister for Economy said the price of imported food items was uncontrollable because of the COVID-19 pandemic with international manufacturers trying to maintain a profit.

“So a lot of these food items we actually don’t have control when the freight cost goes up,” he said.

He clarified that the price of raw materials like wheat from Australia was determined by the suppliers and a sudden hike in supply prices had a significant increase in the final price consumers purchased at.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government continues to identify ways on managing this imported food costs.

And one of this, was the Fiji Competition Consumer Commission (FCCC), which continues to price control these imports.

“We are currently looking at wages as we announced in the budget last year that we were looking at how to make sure we manage this cost,” he said

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum praised the efforts of all three villages in Dawara, Nakarovatu and Wailevu East for receiving their COVID-19 jabs.

“Our high vaccination coverage ensures our borders are open and tourists continue to arrive into the country, thus boosting our economy,” he added.

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