Fiji is accelerating its push to modernize the business environment, with new digital platforms designed to speed approvals, attract investment, and create jobs. Speaking at the Vinod Patel Supply Chain Conference, Permanent Secretary for Trade Shaheen Ali said long delays in company registration, permits, and access to government services have discouraged investors and slowed employment growth. He emphasized that when the business environment sends the wrong signals, investment stalls—and job creation stalls with it.
Under the government’s plan, entrepreneurs and investors will use a single online gateway to register companies, renew licenses, and apply for permits. Officials say processing times that once took months will be reduced to days, while complex approvals—such as building permits—are being digitized to cut waiting periods from years to months. This builds on the ongoing BusinessNow Fiji program, which integrates multiple agencies into one portal so applicants can see fees upfront and track applications in real time. Greater transparency is intended to reduce bottlenecks and deter unofficial demands that have historically added cost and uncertainty.
The reforms are part of a broader national strategy to re-engineer government services, not just move forms online. Earlier rollouts under the same agenda have already delivered measurable improvements:
– The Starting a Business Sub-System has shortened turnaround times, with complete applications processed in as little as 14 days.
– A dedicated Building Permits Approval Subsystem is being prepared to streamline construction approvals, with authorities aiming to compress processing to a matter of months.
– Government leaders have previously set targets to expand the portal to dozens of e-services across more than a dozen agencies and move 80% of core services online by 2030.
Why this matters
– Faster approvals lower the cost of doing business and improve cash flow for startups and MSMEs.
– Real-time tracking and clear fee structures increase trust and reduce room for delays or misuse.
– Faster building permits can unlock construction, housing, and infrastructure projects, rippling into jobs and local supply chains.
– Consistent, predictable processes help attract both domestic and foreign investment.
What to watch
– Legislative updates and Cabinet actions needed to underpin digital workflows and cut redundant steps.
– Change management and staff training across agencies to ensure new systems are used effectively.
– Service uptime, user support, and continuous improvement as demand grows.
– Public dashboards or periodic reporting on processing times, approvals issued, and user satisfaction.
Logical context
Digitization delivers the biggest gains when paired with process redesign. By standardizing data, eliminating duplicate submissions, and enabling inter-agency interoperability, the system can turn weeks of back-and-forth into automated checks and single-touch approvals for low-risk applications. This, in turn, frees staff to focus on complex cases and quality control, raising overall service standards.
Outlook
If implementation stays on track—with strong coordination, transparent metrics, and sustained political backing—Fiji can become one of the Pacific’s most user-friendly business jurisdictions. Quicker approvals, clearer rules, and digital transparency offer a pragmatic route to higher investment, better compliance, and more jobs.
Summary
– Fiji is rolling out unified online platforms to register companies, renew licenses, and secure permits.
– Processing times are set to drop from months to days; building permit timelines aim to fall from years to months.
– The push extends earlier successes under BusinessNow Fiji, including faster business start-up approvals and a multi-agency e-services portal.
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