The Fijian Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya met with the President Harsharvardhan Neotia and senior officials of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi, India on Tuesday.

FICCI serves to facilitate Indian private sector investments and has a membership of 2.5 million Indian organisations across India with 14
offices in India and 11 global representative offices.

“The meeting focused on how the two nations could further strengthen business to business relations. As Fiji is spreading further into Asia,India is an important emerging trade and investment market for Fiji”, said the Minister.

“The main concern for Indian businesses is the distance and air connectivity.

However, that very issue will be resolved through thedirect flight to Singapore, which means an Indian entrepreneur needs to take only one stop beforereaching Fiji” added the Minister.

“The Singapore route will not only open doors for visitor numbers but it will enhance Fiji’s trade and investment relations with India and South East Asia and making Fiji the gateway to the Pacifi c.

In time to come we want the direct Singapore-Fiji route to be the preferred route for travellers going Australia and New Zealand,” said Minister Koya.

The Minister further stated that both sides agreed that trade and investment opportunities for Indian investors exist in Fiji, particularly
in the pharmaceutical, agriculture and niche tourism, with a range of attractive investment packages being offered for foreign investors,
including lowest corporate taxes in the region, tax free regions, duty free imports of input or investment items and ease of accessibility to land leases.

The Minister also emphasised the energy sector as a key focus area for the Fijian government and investment opportunities for alternative energ sources such as solar power and bio fuel which were also available for investors.

The Fijian High Commissioner to India Yogesh Karan also added that India’s Ministry for Energy would lead a delegation to Fiji
in April this year to spearhead some of Indian Government’s initiatives in the energy sector.

The meeting was a success in generating trade and travel interest to Fiji and FICCI offi cials expressed a commitment to support Fiji’s
initiatives to encourage more Indian investments.

The Minister was accompanied by the Fijian High Commissioner in New Delhi, Yogesh Karan and other government officials.