Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to diversifying Fiji’s economy during the 2025-2026 Budget Consultation. Emphasizing initiatives in agriculture, new industries, and enhancing the business process outsourcing sector, Prasad outlined a proactive approach to economic growth.
In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of improving the ease of doing business by addressing and reducing approval delays within government agencies. He acknowledged the challenges that remain but expressed optimism about the government’s capacity to implement necessary reforms.
Priorities for the upcoming budget will include a clear focus on project delivery and enhancing service efficiency across ministries. Prasad emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We’ll be quite blunt in this budget about what agencies and ministries ought to do. Budget allocations are for a particular purpose, and we expect ministries to implement and deliver.” This is indicative of a broader strategy that aligns with the government’s Medium Term Fiscal Strategy, which aims to ensure result-oriented planning and efficient fund allocation towards high-impact projects.
In addition, the government is exploring reallocating funds between ministries based on performance to optimize efficiency. Examples of this include potentially transferring specific funding responsibilities to local councils for better management of local issues such as drainage and garbage collection.
Prasad also reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure and service delivery, while maintaining a balanced expenditure framework of 30 percent for capital and 70 percent for operating expenses.
The Ministry of Finance has invited Fiji’s citizens to actively participate in the budget consultation process. Public forums will continue next week in Nadi and the Northern Division, allowing citizens to contribute ideas and feedback either in person or via written submissions.
This approach demonstrates the government’s dedication to creating a budget that reflects the voices and needs of its citizens, ultimately aiming for a more robust and inclusive economic future for Fiji. The ongoing engagement serves not only to gather input but also fosters a sense of ownership among the community regarding the shaping of their nation’s economic landscape.
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