The Coalition Government is poised to unveil its National Development Plan, which aims to steer Fiji towards becoming a prosperous nation over the next 25 to 30 years.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, highlighted that this initiative represents a shift from a middle-income to a wealth-driven society. The official announcement will be made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Tuesday.
Prof Prasad emphasized the government’s commitment to listening to the concerns and aspirations of various community sectors. He noted, “The government has embarked on a journey of consultation, dialogue, and collaboration with our people, especially within the private sector and non-governmental organizations. We are pleased with our progress in this area.”
He praised the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, in shaping the government’s agenda.
“We are developing a plan of action to create an environment conducive to business, encouraging our communities, workers, and farmers to harness their energy, potential, and innovation,” he stated.
The Ministry of Finance has made a conservative projection of 2.8 percent growth for Fiji’s economy this year. However, Prof Prasad expressed confidence that growth will exceed three percent, following steps taken in the last two budgets to stabilize the financial position.
“We have implemented tax and fiscal policies that ensure proper funding for the government. We’ve successfully reduced our deficit from as high as eight to nine percent to less than four percent,” he remarked.
Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the tourism sector is a crucial component of Fiji’s economy, contributing approximately 40 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. He reiterated the government’s objective to foster growth in other sectors connected to tourism.