Fiji is set to address the development aspirations of the iTaukei community as part of its National Development Plan for 2025-2029 and Vision 2050, recently launched at the Grand Pacific Hotel. The plan emphasizes leveraging iTaukei land as an investment asset in collaboration with other communities and foreign investors to unlock numerous opportunities.
A key highlight of the document is the commitment to protect the rights of marginalized communities, ensuring land tenancy security to foster confidence and promote communal economic empowerment. The plan reflects ongoing debates regarding the government’s role in fostering economic resilience, acknowledging past interventionist policies that have hindered private sector investment and economic growth.
To enhance sustainable economic development and prosperity, the government aims to adopt a more supportive approach towards private sector participation. The strategy includes a gradual reduction of the government’s direct involvement in economic activities to avoid competing with private enterprises.
Additionally, the government will focus on creating a favorable environment for private sector growth by maintaining consistent policies and enhancing investor confidence. The plan outlines four critical areas for the government’s role: minimizing its size and impact on the economy, efficiently facilitating private sector investment through eliminating regulatory hurdles, delivering quality public goods via targeted spending, and establishing public-private partnerships where appropriate to boost growth.
Overall, the initiative emphasizes empowering individuals and communities within a democratic framework, promoting active participation in decision-making and facilitating access to development opportunities.