Concerns about delays in responses from government agencies have been raised by investors to Investment Fiji, according to chairwoman Jenny Seeto. She mentioned that the process of submitting various applications and obtaining necessary approvals has been challenging for investors.
Seeto highlighted that the core issues are tied to the lack of infrastructure and the responsiveness of the agencies. For different actions, such as construction, investors must submit applications and seek multiple approvals. Additionally, obtaining land leases, whether from the iTaukei Land Trust Board or the Lands Department, adds to the complexity.
Another area of concern is immigration, particularly regarding the speed of permit approvals. Seeto noted that a new online document management system is expected to improve response times from the immigration department.
Nevertheless, she expressed optimism about the government’s initiative to digitize business processes, such as the Business Now portal, which is anticipated to streamline operations for both investors and staff in tracking investments.
During a recent World Bank presentation, it was emphasized that for Fiji to enhance its growth potential by five percent of GDP, private sector investments need to rise from 15.5 percent to 18 percent of GDP, translating to an increase of approximately 400 to 500 million dollars.
Seeto encouraged collaboration between the private sector and the government to make investment processes more efficient to achieve this goal. She also commended the Ministry of Environment for improving application response times, acknowledging the significant progress made since the new permanent secretary took office.