Investors with unethical motives are not welcome in Fiji, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, and Small Medium Enterprises, Manoa Kamikamica. This remark came in response to a recent report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which highlighted the Pacific region’s rising status as a hub for organized crime.
The UNODC report, titled “Transnational Organized Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges, and Impact,” provides a thorough examination of the changing landscape of organized crime and its drivers in the region.
In his comments on the findings, Kamikamica acknowledged the report’s insights, stating, “It’s a fair observation.” He explained that there is a permit process that investors must go through after expressing their intentions to invest, which serves as a preliminary level of screening. He emphasized the importance of vigilance when considering new investors.
The report indicated that foreign crime syndicates, especially from Asia and the Americas, are taking advantage of the Pacific’s strategic position to traffic illegal drugs and contraband. Kamikamica reiterated the need for vigilance regarding the types of investors Fiji attracts, stating, “We welcome all investors but of course, if they have bad intentions then they’re not welcome in Fiji.”
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