The narrative of “Fiji’s economic success” is gaining attention in Australia, highlighting the deepening relationship between the two nations. Tim Ayres, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, stated, “the truth is Australian families love Fiji,” during a Zoom address at the opening night of the 2024 Fiji Australia-Australia Fiji Business Councils Joint Forum in Suva, which drew over 200 delegates from Fiji and Australia.
Ayres expressed pride in Australia’s role in Fiji’s economic resilience, particularly noting the revival of Fiji’s tourism sector, significantly bolstered by Australian visitors. “The story of Fiji’s economic success is remarkable, and I’m proud to say Australia is one of Fiji’s largest trade and investment partners,” he remarked.
He reported that bilateral trade in goods and services grew from $812 million in 2021 to $3.2 billion by 2023, marking an astounding increase of nearly 294 percent, driven by the Australian enthusiasm for travel to Fiji. In 2023, Fiji welcomed almost 930,000 visitors, exceeding the pre-pandemic record by four percent, with nearly half of those travelers coming from Australia.
Beyond tourism, Ayres highlighted diverse areas of economic cooperation, including agriculture, fisheries, and business process outsourcing. In 2023, around 3000 Australian businesses exported goods valued at $562 million to Fiji.
The Australian government remains committed to enhancing Fijian exports to Australia through initiatives like Pacific Trade and Invest (PTI). In 2023, PTI facilitated $49 million in exports, an increase of $12 million from the previous year, largely due to kava sales. Ayres acknowledged Fiji’s vibrant kava industry, noting that Australia imported 123 tonnes of Fijian kava, making Fiji the second largest kava exporter to Australia.