Immanuel steps up: New Finance Minister vows to boost economy

New Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel says his priority is to grow Fiji’s economy as he takes on the expanded role overseeing both finance and commerce.

“We will continue from there for the Ministry of Finance, just to strengthen our financial position, also strengthen our financial management and now we are in the time to take over commerce as well as business development,” Mr Immanuel said.

“Those two are related and to try and probably grow the economy further.”

Mr Immanuel was officially sworn in yesterday as Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development by Acting President Chief Justice Salesi Temo at State House.

He takes on responsibilities previously held by both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade following the resignations of former Deputy Prime Ministers Manoa Kamikamica and Biman Prasad.

Both former Deputy PMs stepped down from Cabinet after being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and are dealing with their charges through legal channels.

Mr Immanuel, who previously served as Assistant Minister for Finance since December 2022, acknowledged it was only his first day in the new role.

“Probably nothing new, it’s only one day now and I was away when the announcement was made, but we will continue from there,” he said.

The Minister said he had been in contact with his predecessor Mr Prasad and had been updated by ministry staff.

“We messaged each other, we talked to each other on the phone when the announcement was made and I’ve been updated by the staff, the peers and the senior staff of the ministry,” he said.

Mr Immanuel brings over three decades of experience in banking, investment, and corporate leadership to the role.

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