New Zealand’s Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, Hon. Rino Tirikatane, has commended Fiji for being the country’s number one trading partner in recent years.

Speaking in Wellington during Investment Fiji’s 2023 Investment and Trade Mission to New Zealand Business Forum, Hon. Tirikatene stated both nations are on the same wave length as both countries are now open for business.

"We want to do greater things together; we want to work closely, and we want to collaborate in numerous areas," mentioned Hon. Tirikatene.

The Hon. Tirikatene further stated that as a trading nation, New Zealand values its trade relationships.

"I want to acknowledge the tough times we had in the past few years where we have not been able to meet in person.  The last time I met the team was through the online platform Zoom, and now it gives me an immense pleasure to see everyone in person," highlighted the Minister while welcoming the Fiji delegation in Wellington, NZ.

Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, who led the Fiji delegation to New Zealand, was overwhelmed with the positive response from the NZ Government and representatives.

The Hon. Minister emphasized that the key takeaway for the Fiji delegation will be to learn from their trading partner on how to strengthen the ease of doing business in Fiji.

"According to a World Bank report, New Zealand is among the top two nations in the ease of doing business. I am keen on strengthening this area, as we all know that we can all talk about trade and investment, but if procedures relating to setting up or doing business in the country are not easy, then things can become very challenging," said Hon. Kamikamica.

The Deputy Prime Minister also said that Fiji continues to recognize New Zealand's role in our country.

"From this Investment and Trade Mission, we aim to grow those ties a lot deeper and bigger."

"In a nutshell, Fiji has been reliant on tourism for quite a longtime, and we would like to diversify the economy. The Government is motivated to remodel Fiji’s economy and at the same time, rebuild it," elaborated Hon. Kamikamica.

As part of the 2023 Investment and Trade Mission to New Zealand, the Fiji delegation, which included Government representatives, private sector organizations, and business leaders, engaged with their counterparts and prospective buyers and investors from New Zealand.

The five-day outbound mission, which concluded on Friday last week, was organized by Investment Fiji and the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications in collaboration with the Fiji Consulate General and Trade Commission (Australia and New Zealand), Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the New Zealand Fiji Business Council, and the Fiji New Zealand Business Council.

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