The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, underscored the vital importance of productivity in driving economic growth.
He made these remarks during the 65th Workshop Meeting of Heads of National Productivity Organisations held at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi this morning.
Kamikamica pointed out that productivity serves as a key driver of GDP per capita across various nations. He noted that there have been positive signs of recovery in both global and Pacific productivity levels, with a global increase of 1.2% and an expected growth of 1.8% for the Pacific region in 2023.
The Deputy Prime Minister urged for collaborative efforts to tackle current challenges such as economic resilience and sustainability.
He mentioned that Fiji’s Government is taking proactive steps to improve productivity through a range of initiatives, which include addressing labor shortages, modernizing policies, and diversifying the economy.
Kamikamica also proposed the creation of a national Productivity Commission in Fiji, modeled after successful examples in other countries, to conduct research and develop tailored policy solutions.