KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY, TRADE, TOURISM, LANDS AND MINERAL RESOURCES, HON. FAIYAZ SIDDIQ KOYA AT THE 21ST CENTURY MARITIME SILKROAD INTERNATIONAL EXPO, GUANGZHOU, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The Governor of Guangdong Province, H.E Mr. Ma Xing Rui,
Excellences
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka, Ni Hao and a very good morning to you all.
Firstly, I wish to thank the Governor of Guangdong Province, H.E Mr. Ma Xing Rui for the special invitation to this important event – the 21st Century Silkroad International Expo and Industrial and Financial Cooperation and Development Forum.
I also wish to thank the Government of the Guangdong Province and the Guangzhou Municipality for the hospitality that has been extended to me and my delegation since our arrival a few days ago. The warmth and kindness of the people of Guangdong has made us feel at home.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The genesis of Fiji’s participation today was set in May 2017, when the Fijian Prime Minister, Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama participated in the Belt and Road Forum, chaired by the His Excellency, Xi Jingping, President of People’s Republic of China.
The Fijian Prime Minister represented the Pacific region at the Belt and Road Forum. This was a testament that the Chinese Government considered the Pacific region as an important extension to the Belt and Road Initiative through the maritime silkroad. This also underscored Fiji’s importance as a strategic partner and conduit to the Pacific region.
The theme of today’s Forum of Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution and Shared Benefits on Industrial and Financial Cooperation and Development provides an important mechanism through which the implementation of the Maritime Silkroad strategy could lead to benefits for all parties.
Ladies and Gentlemen
This scale of broad partnerships and investments along the “Silkroad” or the new trading path that China is leading is unprecedented.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the Chinese private sector in this initiative provides confidence to countries that apart from the backing of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the initiative has a commercial focus.
As a vibrant economy dependent on international trade and investment, Fiji welcomes genuine Chinese investments and enhanced bilateral trade, which will generate mutual benefits for the people of both countries.
The establishment of relations between the Chinese, especially the Guangdong Province, private sector and the Fijian private sector is testimony of the faith that has been placed in Fiji as an excellent investment destination and the fact that the maritime silkroad strategy is effectively working.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As an example, trade flows between Fiji and China have been flourishing in recent years. Fiji’s trade with China has grown by 22 percent over the last five years. It is interesting to note that trade between Fiji and Guangdong accounts for an average 25 per cent of total trade between Fiji and China.
In addition, the tourist numbers from China, over the last decade has increased 10 fold, there is a potential for more tourism from Guangdong Province.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Belt and Road initiative provides a platform to promote inclusive development and encourage the building of systems of fair, reasonable and transparent global trade and investment rules.
This is the new model of connecting countries and people along the silkroad and maritime routes – it is the new age of international cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Toady’s Forum, has brought together 40 different countries with hundreds of participants, with a focused vision of how all partners can work together and contribute to the realization of the objectives of the maritime silkroad strategy – inclusive development and shared prosperity.
In this regard, Fiji being the communication, logistics, transportation and trade hub of the Pacific, is a key link in the Maritime Silkroad strategy – linking the Pacific to the Belt and Road Initiative and giving access to development and infrastructure growth in the region.
The Fijian Government is working towards the transformation of Fiji into a dynamic, internationally competitive economy serving as the trade and investment hub of the Pacific. In this connection, a number of improvements and reforms have been made, including improvements and reforms of our trade facilitation agencies, sea and air ports.
These reforms are aimed at achieving the set objectives of becoming a trading and investment hub.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiji has benefited from the Road and Belt initiative and the increased exposure in the Chinese market has resulted in a 500 percent increase in investments from Chinese investors in the past 6 years. The Chinese investors increasingly seeing the multitude of benefits in investing in Fiji.
In the last two days, I have personally visited a number of industries in Jiangmen, Guangzhou and Zheng Cheng. I have been impressed by the spirit of entrepreneurship of the local Chinese community. The green technology and revolutionary innovation undertaken by these businesses will position the Guangdong and Chinese economy towards sustainability.
This is similar to the Fijian Government’s national development strategy, which is geared towards sustainable growth to ensure that we preserve the environment and natural resources for the future generations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Fiji will be carrying forward this message to the world leaders, as we steer the COP23 (Conference of Parties), towards global consensus on climate change through our Presidency, in November this year. I call upon all the countries present here to support Fiji in this endeavour.
In conclusion, I wish the 21st Century Maritime Silkroad International Expo and the Industrial and Financial Cooperation and Development Forum a great success.
Vinaka Vakalevu and Xie Xie.