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 delivered his remarks at the 65th Workshop Meeting of Heads of National Productivity Organisations, held this morning at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi.
Kamikamica noted that productivity acts as a significant catalyst for GDP per capita among nations. He also highlighted encouraging trends in global and Pacific productivity, with a reported 1.2% increase worldwide and a projected 1.8% growth for the Pacific in 2023.
He urged for collective efforts to address current challenges, including building economic resilience and promoting sustainability. “The Fijian Government is improving productivity through various initiatives, such as tackling labor shortages, modernizing policies, and diversifying the economy,” he stated.
The Deputy Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a national Productivity Commission in Fiji, modeled after successful examples from other countries, to conduct research and develop tailored policy recommendations.