OPENING ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR TRADE, CO-OPERATIVES AND SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, AND COMMUNICATIONS

THE OFFICIAL INAUGURATION OF THE FIJI TRADE COMMISSION NORTH AMERICA OFFICE

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR TRADE, CO-OPERATIVES AND SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES, AND COMMUNICATIONS

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communication, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica,

Guest of Honour, Mrs Leba Qarase,

Honorary Consul of Fiji in San Francisco, Jay Singh,

Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to North America, Alika Cooper,

Invited and valued Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bula Vinaka and good morning to you all.

It brings me great joy to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you here today. Your presence is deeply appreciated, as we gather for the official inauguration of the Fiji Trade Commission North America Office.

I acknowledge all those who have been steadfast supporters of our endeavours over the years, as well as to those who are joining us for the first time to forge a new relationship with our Office.

Today is a special occasion as we celebrate the establishment of the Fiji Trade Commission North America Office right here in Burlingame.

This is a significant achievement on our part, as it will bring Fiji closer to major US businesses, the Tech sector, our investment partners, and most importantly, closer to our Fijian diaspora.

While the COVID-19 pandemic posed unforeseen challenges, leading to the temporary closure of the office, shortly after its relocation, our duly appointed Trade Commissioner, Mr. Alika Cooper, moved from Fiji to the Bay Area in July 2022, to re-establish operations.

And here we are today, witnessing the fruits of our collective efforts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s inauguration marks a pivotal milestone for Fiji. The Trade Commission North America Office will serve as the vital link between Fiji and the North American market. It will connect businesses, investors, and our diaspora with the Fiji Government, agencies, and businesses back home.

So really, we are embarking on new opportunities.

Thus far, the Office has played a crucial role in supporting investment and trade facilitation and promotion. Additionally, passport services have been provided through the collaboration with the team at Fiji’s Embassy in Washington DC, who have visited the Office three times to conduct passport enrolment for a specific period. We are working on making this a permanent service

In this room, we have a gathering of patriots who deeply care about the future of Fiji. Our resilience during the challenging economic period of the past few years has shown that international trade and investment play a vital role in our economic development. We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support and assistance from the Fijian diaspora worldwide.

We firmly believe that Fiji and the US can achieve great things together to enhance our economic relationship and expand bilateral trade. Fiji’s inclusion as a founding member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), along with the renewed focus of the United States in the Pacific, including Fiji, exemplifies this shared commitment.

And we are so glad to have the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, who has just arrived from Detroit after leading Fiji’s delegation to a critical IPEF Ministerial Meeting. In that meeting, we concluded a major part of IPEF (Pillar II on Supply Chains). We also cemented our position as part of a club with which the US wants to do business with.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite our extraordinary challenges of the past few years, our trade with the US remained strong. The US is one of our largest trading partners, and is the largest export market for Fiji. Key exports to the US, like water, processed fish, kava and new products like turmeric remained strong. Fiji exports to the US totals over $360 million and has been growing at a rate of 6 percent, since way back in 1995.

The US also remains a key tourism market for Fiji. Last year, we recovered over 70 percent of US visitors to Fiji (11 percent of market share). And we expect to grow with Fiji Airways planning to add new US destinations on its network.

This isn’t only good for tourism — but for trade and business.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We acknowledge that there is still untapped potential in terms of trade opportunities with the US.  In his meeting with the US Secretary for Commerce, Gina Raimondo, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister has further reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthening Fiji-US trade and investment relations.

For these reasons the Trade Commission Office in San Francisco takes on an added importance. The Office is charged with the responsibility to capitalise on these opportunities and convert them to tangible trade and investment benefits.

Simply put the Office’s target is to increase trade between Fiji and US, increase investments and ensure more Fiji made and Fiji grown goods reach the shelves in the US stores

The Office here to serve you as well and ensure that your needs are met, and your intentions to invest back home are facilitated. In the Trade Commissioner, Alika, we have the right person with the right skills and the right attitude to take on these tasks.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been a long journey and a mixture of trials and victories in getting to this point – of inaugurating Fiji’s Trade Commission. In this we are grateful for the leadership and guidance provided by our Minister.

Thus, it gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Honourable Manoa Kamikamica to address you all. Vinaka vaka levu and Thank you!