A labor shortage has emerged as a significant challenge across all sectors in Fiji, particularly affecting micro, small, and medium enterprises, according to Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Manoa Kamikamica.
At the Asian Productivity Organisation’s 65th workshop meeting in Nadi, he noted that despite the government’s achievements in boosting productivity through various policies, the exodus of skilled workers has created a major obstacle to the nation’s productivity objectives.
Kamikamica emphasized that the labor shortage affects not only MSMEs but also critical sectors like tourism, healthcare, education, and technology. He highlighted, “We are losing individuals who could contribute significantly to these areas.”
To address this issue, the government is focusing on developing new industries and investing in various key sectors. This includes decentralizing services and modernizing existing policies to cultivate a more favorable business environment in Fiji.
The establishment of the Investment Facilitation Committee aims to support investors and streamline the process for moving investments forward. The government is also making efforts to diversify the economy and foster the creation of new industries that focus on adding value.
Through the Commercial Agriculture Taskforce, Kamikamica noted collaborations with various investors such as Fiji Water and Aitken Spence to explore the revitalization of crops like kava, cocoa, papaya, citrus, and cassava.