Honourable J.V. Bainimarama, CF(Mil),Ost.J, MSD, Jssc, Psc

Honourable J.V. Bainimarama, CF(Mil),OSt.J, MSD, jssc, psc

Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for iTaukei Affairs and Sugar Industry

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SPEECH AT THE WESTPAC PRIME MINISTER’S EXPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Sheraton Resort Sat. 7th Nov., 2015

DENARAU1830 Hours

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Cabinet Ministers;

Your Excellences, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

The Chairman, Board of Directors and CEO of Investment Fiji;

Sponsors of the 2015 Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards;

Esteemed Exporters;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Bula Vinaka and a very Good Evening to you.

We gathered around this time last year to celebrate the achievements of Fijian Exporters and it is my great pleasure to be here with you tonight to again celebrate the progress made by our exporters in growing the Fijian Economy and prospering the lives of every Fijian.

Never before has our economy sustained significant levels of growth as it has so far in the last five years with last yearshowing an impressive 5.3% growth rate. A first in the history of independent Fiji. We anticipate similar projections this year. This is certainly remarkable given the performance of the world’s other great economies.

It is a great time for businesses and to do business in Fiji. Our thriving economy and my Government’s pro-business policies have been the keys to unlocking our potential.

Many of you exporters here in this room tonight and others not here have achieved growth in the export market through your sheer and individual tenacity and hard work. You have had to go around a lot of trade barriers.

Of course if these obstacles were not there in the first place or are removed many of you and Fiji overall would do even better – realizing our true potential.

However, this requires facilitation. My Government is here to do exactly that. The Fiji First Government is working in partnership with you investors and exporters to realize your full potential. My Government will continue to provide the enabling environment for your businesses to grow. Our doors are always open to any government or organization that wants to work with us to improve the lives of all Fijians through trade and investment.

My Fellow Fijians, I am told that tonight marks 23 years of celebrating the excellence of you our exporters. Trading with the world is going to be more lucrative. That is why we needed a national trade guide to help us on our journey. Hence, the Fijian Trade Policy Framework I launched few months back is aimed at strengthening our trade performance from now through to 2025.

This milestone achievement is our campaign to take the Fijian-made brand to the four corners of the earth. To earn us the export dollars we need to improve the lives of every Fijian. To fulfill our dreams to build a nation that is great. Not only of equality and opportunity but where poverty and despair gives way to prosperity and happiness. That is my Government’s vision. That is our plan. And with your help, we will achieve it.

And tonight’s theme is certainly appropriate with my Government’s direction - “Partnering for Global Success”.

To boost our trade performance all stakeholders from the public and private sectors must work together to expand our global footprints.The private sector is the engine of economic growth and the principal creator of employment for our Fijians and I applaudyour efforts.

Government for its part is actively engaging in strengthening preferential market access with countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand and the EU region as well as strongly leading Fiji’s views in various trade negotiations such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement, PACER-Plus and PICTA. This is our way of raising Fiji’s voice for better and fairer access to the global marketplace. To participate more effectively in trade negotiations and fully integrate Fiji into the global trading system. To help you secure and maintain improved market access to the international and regional markets for our Fijian goods and services.

We need more coordination. We need consistency. We certainly encourage the growth of Fiji’s industrial base to attract investors.Be Smarter. More innovative. More adaptable. Identify more opportunities in the global marketplace for our good and services to give you our exporters all the help we can.

We need to create opportunities, recognize the barriers, the pitfalls. Allow me to be blunt, I acknowledge that some of those barriers are still in existence unfortunately by government agencies despite my instructions to remove the red tape.I have already stated that I will not tolerate any bureaucratic obstruction. There is no place for the old business practices within the civil service. That is the reason why we are undertaking the civil service reforms with the help of the World Bank.

In this modern era, government too must change. Its policies must reflect this and become streamlined and efficient. I know some of you may be facing difficulties with some government agencies for your business. Come and talk to me about it.

At the same time, please note that while my Government encourages business growthI also expect businesses to be genuine in your dealings with government. Our policiesare pro-business and they in place to protect you and us always. There cannot be shortcuts.There cannot be compromises to standards.

You can see all around you the evidence of our pro-business policies; major upgrade of Fiji’s infrastructure including roads, water, better air and land transport systems; modern laws; free education for our children; and a low-interest Tertiary Loan Scheme to enable our children especially those whose families could not afford to do so, to further their education. Others or what I call ‘enablers’ include reduced taxes, provide a range of investment incentives.

These‘enablers’ will continue as you would have heard yesterday through the 2016 Budget delivered by the Minister for Finance. We need every arm of Government to engage with each other and the private sector to maximize the impact of our export effort. Fiji is economically on the move and we must take advantage of the opportunities presented. The concept of Team Fiji – of working together to achieve our goals has never been more crucial to our development. And everyone in this room can help me.

To you our exporters, I congratulate you on behalf of Fiji for your achievements that has contributed to the growth of the economy. Your success will translate to creating much needed employment, thus improving the livelihoods of all Fijians. The rippling effect will be tremendous leading to wealth for our nation.

As I always say, we can all be winners if we can play smarter. We can all be winners if we face our national challenges together and deal with them in a holistic and inclusive manner.With your partnership, we can take Fiji forward and expand its opportunities in the world.

Continue your great work and I encourage you to unlock your potential for creativity, innovation and growth by adding value to your business. Without you, we would not be here tonight.

I urge you all, in particular the businesses houses to expand your trade with all our neighbours, seek constructive engagement, tell your counterparts about the many opportunities in and about Fiji. You all have the chance and ability to do so. Indeed you must do so - not just for your businesses but for Fiji and all Fijians

Ladies and gentlemen I know you are all keen to find out who the winners are tonight. The awardees tonight have excelled in their respective areas. At the same time you are all winners in your right. You all deserve recognition and appreciation for your hard work.We celebrate with you tonight in taking Team Fiji to the world.

I wish you all anenjoyable evening.

Vinaka.

ENDS.

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