Guest of Honor, Mrs. Qarese,
Honorary Consul of Fiji in San Francisco, Mr. Jay Singh,
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communication, Mr. Shaheen Ali,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
Over a year ago, a decision was taken to move the Trade Commission Office from Los Angeles to San Francisco. That decision was a vision for Fiji to move out of its comfort zone and explore new heights.
Today, we stand here in Burlingame to inaugurate the relocated Fiji Trade Commission North America Office. We are simply putting Fiji’s trade and economic ambitions next to Silicon Valley and in close proximity to the Fijian Diaspora.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiji has become the hub of trade, investment, and innovation of the Pacific. We are leading significant developments. With the Trade Commission Office now situated in the heart of the business community in California, we are conveniently positioned to serve both the United States and Canada.
We are now close to major tech companies, financial institutions, and businesses that engage in trade and investment with Fiji and Fijians. Today’s inauguration of the Trade Commission is coming at a moment when the Fiji-US bilateral relationship is experiencing unprecedented levels of vitality and robustness. We are opening a new chapter in our partnership that will take Fiji and the US to greater trade and economic heights.
We have already achieved record flows of tourism, trade, and investment between our countries.
Post-pandemic, Fiji has experienced a remarkable recovery, with tourism demand exceeding expectations and visitor arrivals expected to reach 2019 levels by the end of 2023. North American tourists have a special affinity for Fiji, with 12 percent of total visitors arriving from Canada and the US, contributing to $183.8 million in earnings in 2022.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to reaffirm that the US is Fiji’s largest and fastest growing export market. In 2022, we recorded a 15.6 percent growth in total trade, with a significant 15.4 percent increase in Fijian exports to the US market. This indicates the expanding reach of new Fijian products and businesses throughout the region. However, we have only scratched the surface when it comes to realising the full potential of marketing Fijian-made goods in the North American market.
This is where the Trade Commission plays a crucial role in promoting Fiji as your ideal trade and investment destination.
In this regard, I specifically urge you to reconsider the trade and investment prospects in Fiji and actively contribute to the economic revitalisation of our bilateral ties, aligning with the renewed political and diplomatic engagement between our nations.
When it comes to investment, I want you all to recognise our strategic position as the Pacific’s hub, the notable advancements in our infrastructure such as improved roads, airports, and efficient ports, our overall connectivity and top-notch telecommunications, and the enticing investment incentives we offer, such as duty concessions, investment allowances, and some of the most competitive corporate and personal tax rates in the region.
Through these we provide numerous investment opportunities in sectors such as ICT, tourism, outsourcing services, infrastructure, health, sports, audiovisual, light manufacturing, and agriculture.
It is the role of this office to support interested investors, conduct direct outreach to companies of interest, and promote Fiji as a unique investment destination. We are excited to announce that we have some interesting projects in the pipeline, which will elevate Fiji’s status as an investment destination.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we celebrate the Trade Commission and its official relocation, we must acknowledge that the Fijian presence here in California is not a new phenomenon. I extend my gratitude to the Fijian Diaspora in California, the United States, and Canada for their continuous support of Fiji. You are not forgotten, and we are working on bringing consular services closer to the diaspora along the West Coast.
I also wish to express my appreciation to Ambassador Filipo Tarakinikini and the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations, as well as the Fiji Embassy Washington DC Team for their unwavering support during the time we were re-establishing office operations.
I extend my thanks to our US and Canadian Honorary Consuls and their assistants, Jay Singh, Vinod Bhindi, Bobby Naicker, Karen Lawson, and Ron Bainivalu, who have supported the Trade Commissioner. Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways are critical partners, and I acknowledge their North American Teams and look forward to their continued collaboration as we promote Fiji in the North American region.
To our dedicated staff present here today, I am proud of the progress we have made in building bridges with the business community in California, across the US and Canada, but we are only just getting started.
Our economy is recovering, and to maintain Fiji as an investment and trade destination of choice, we will continue to accelerate reforms and modernise our business processes. Our goal is to create an open, fair, and friendly business environment, despite our geographical isolation and small market.
I hold a strong conviction that these divergences can be effectively resolved with greater ease in this era of enhanced goodwill. This is especially crucial now, given the rather bleak global circumstances, as nations with intertwined histories and shared values should stand united.
Together, I am confident that we will cultivate relationships that attract even greater investment to our country, create more jobs for our people, and fuel the next decade of Fijian progress and prosperity.
With these few words, I officially declare the Fiji Trade Commission Office open.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you.