The Chair of the Pacific Islands Investment Forum

Board Members from the Different Funds in the Pacific

Pacific Islands Investment Forum Members

Captains of Industry

Ladies and Gentlemen

Cola Vina and a very good morning to you all.

It gives me great pleasure to join you this morning at the Pacific Islands Investment Forum CEO Workshop. This gathering is more than a forum of minds; it is a bridge between vision and opportunity — a gateway to building resilient, inclusive, and prosperous economies across the Pacific. I extend my gratitude to the organisers for their foresight in creating this platform.

Today, as we reflect on the investment environment, challenges, and opportunities in Fiji, I invite you to see our beloved country not just as an island nation, but as the hub of the Pacific — a place where vision meets viability.

Fiji’s strategic location in the heart of the Pacific gives us unparalleled access to both regional and international markets. We are positioned as a central connector between Asia and the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, and the Polynesian and Melanesian corridors. But beyond geography, what truly makes Fiji the Pacific hub is the quality of our infrastructure, the dynamism of our people, the strength of our institutions, and our commitment to shared prosperity. We are not just ready for investment — we are redefining the way investment is done in the Pacific.

Transforming Our Investment Landscape

Fiji’s investment climate has undergone significant transformation. We have created a business-friendly environment underpinned by economic reform and robust institutional support. We are enabling new businesses to flourish, streamlining regulatory processes, and building public-private partnerships. With the right policies in place and strong cooperation, Fiji is not just open for business — it is primed for transformative investment.

Tourism: From Paradise to Shared Prosperity

One of the most exciting frontiers is our tourism sector. Fiji is home to world-class resorts, pristine beaches, lush hinterlands, and some of the most welcoming people on earth. But we are not just a postcard paradise. Our vision for tourism is sustainable, inclusive, and community-led.

We are encouraging investment in eco-tourism, green resorts, and infrastructure that supports community ownership. Through targeted grants and support for MSMEs, we are embedding local participation into the tourism value chain — ensuring that the benefits of investment are shared broadly and fairly.

Green Energy: Future-Proofing the Pacific

Renewable energy is another transformative sector. Fiji has made strong commitments to clean energy, with ongoing investments in solar, hydro, and biomass. We are diversifying our energy mix to meet today’s needs and to build energy resilience for generations to come.

Investors are welcomed with a suite of incentives — from tax holidays to duty concessions — because we believe that green investment is not only good business, it is the right thing to do. We are determined to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lead the Pacific in climate action.

Agriculture & Fisheries: From Tradition to Innovation

Our agriculture and fisheries sectors — the backbone of many communities — hold vast untapped potential for export-orientated growth. We are reforming legislation to improve transparency and investor confidence, including in key industries like mahogany and kava. The newly established Commercial Agriculture Taskforce is supporting investors with land access and identifying high-potential crops — from aquaculture and coffee to medicinal herbs. We are promoting organic exports, agro-processing, and climate-smart agriculture. With the right partnerships, Fiji can feed the region — and beyond.

ICT and Innovation: A Digital Pacific Begins in Fiji

Fiji is no longer on the periphery when it comes to ICT. We are rapidly becoming a regional digital leader. With the entry of Google and Starlink, our digital reach is expanding to communities previously left behind. The launch of Fiji’s National Digital Strategy marks a milestone in our transformation — laying the foundation for innovation hubs, e-commerce platforms, and tech-driven entrepreneurship. We invite investment in software development, data services, and digital infrastructure — because the future of the Pacific is digital, and that future begins in Fiji.

Infrastructure: Building Foundations for Growth

Infrastructure remains a key pillar of our strategy. We are modernising ports, upgrading airports, and investing in urban infrastructure to support trade, mobility, and quality of life. Through our co-investment platform, we are unlocking financing for critical projects — combining public and private capital for maximum impact. The recently launched “Business Now” portal is a symbol of our commitment to good governance — eliminating red tape, enabling real-time tracking of investment applications, and fostering transparency across government.

Strategic Investment: Inspired by Global Best Practice

As we build out Fiji’s investment ecosystem, we are also learning from successful global models. One such example is Temasek Holdings of Singapore — a state-owned investment company that has catalysed national development through strategic, long-term investments.

While our context is different, we share a similar aspiration: to create a disciplined, transparent, and future-focused investment platform that drives economic transformation. We are exploring options for Fiji to develop its own institutional investment capability — one that can partner with development banks, private investors, and our Pacific neighbours to unlock long-term prosperity.

Reforms to Enable Growth

Another crucial area of reform is immigration. Recognising the importance of labour mobility, the Ministry of Immigration has automated work permit processing, ending manual filing, clearing backlogs, and improving turnaround times. Fiji is now more accessible to global talent — while remaining secure and streamlined.

We are also enhancing our trade and investment policies to better align with the vision of the Pacific Islands Investment Forum. This includes harmonising procedures, simplifying regulations, and boosting collaboration with Pacific Trade Invest to expand our global reach.

Why Invest in Fiji?

Because we offer more than incentives — we offer partnership.

A gateway to over 12 million people in the Pacific. A competitive tax regime and investor-friendly policies. A stable, resilient, and growing economy. A young, multicultural, and educated workforce. And deep commitment to sustainability and inclusion in every sector.

We are embedding climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and social equity into every investment decision — because the green economy is not a trend; it is our future.

 Strengthening Regional Investment Mechanisms

Fiji remains firmly committed to deepening regional cooperation through mechanisms such as the Pacific Islands Investment Forum (PIIF) and the Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) network. These platforms are essential to amplifying our collective voice, unlocking cross-border investment flows, and supporting financial resilience across Pacific Island countries.

The Ministry I lead is aligning our national trade and investment policies with the long-term objectives of PIIF — from improving regulatory coherence and transparency to advocating for greater intra-regional capital mobilisation. We are working closely with PTI to access new markets, promote Pacific-made goods, and facilitate investor outreach at a global scale.

We also see great value in shared infrastructure development, co-investment strategies, and joint promotion efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in the region. By leveraging the strength of our collective networks, we can improve our resilience, scale impact, and ensure no Pacific nation is left behind.

Fiji believes in a regional investment strategy that is inclusive, future-focused, and grounded in partnership — and we are proud to play our part in that shared journey.

A Regional Vision for a Shared Future

Fiji is not acting alone. We are promoting intra-regional trade, shared infrastructure, and investment flows that benefit the entire Pacific. By improving connectivity — whether through roads, ports, data links, or air routes — we are reducing costs and unlocking new markets. Our infrastructure projects are national in scope but regional in purpose.

Conclusion: Fiji Is Ready

As we look to the future, I urge all of you — our partners, investors, and regional leaders — to see Fiji not just as destination , but as a launchpad. Explore the partnerships we offer. Discover the incentives. Seize the opportunities. Let us work together to build a region that is more integrated, more resilient, and more prosperous. Fiji stands ready to lead — not alone, but alongsidyou.   Our vision for economic growth is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. With your partnership, we can transform challenges intopportunities , and dreams into realities.

Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you — and may this forum be a catalyst for bold decisions and lasting partnerships.