The New Zealand–Fiji business councils are again joining forces to open new trade and investment channels between the two countries. The New Zealand Fiji and Fiji New Zealand Business Councils will co-host a one-day conference at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland on September 11, bringing together government ministers, diplomats and business leaders to discuss opportunities and practical steps to deepen economic ties.
NZFBC President Chandar Sen said the event is focused on “unlocking new opportunities for businesses and communities across New Zealand and Fiji,” describing the conference as a catalyst for increased trade, innovation and long-term connections. The conference will coincide with a business mission led by Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, which will also visit business hubs in Auckland and Wellington. Many Fijian businesspeople will accompany the delegation to gain first‑hand insight into opportunities and partnerships, and FNZBC president James Trusler noted the gathering supports the shared ambition of lifting bilateral trade to $2 billion by 2030.
Context and priorities
– The September conference builds on a series of recent missions and forums between the two countries. Bilateral trade has already shown strong growth in recent years (previous reporting has cited figures around NZD 1.3–1.4 billion), and both councils and governments are pushing to close the remaining gap toward the $2 billion goal.
– Past missions have involved targeted business-matching, industry briefings and site visits and have attracted delegations in the order of dozens of firms across sectors such as agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, agritech, food processing, logistics, construction, pharmaceuticals and digital services. Some New Zealand businesses have already established operations in Fiji, showing that commercial partnerships can scale.
– Previous discussions have also flagged practical barriers that need attention: improving air connectivity to Suva, modernising tax arrangements to avoid double taxation, strengthening digital infrastructure, and streamlining immigration and skills pathways. The Auckland conference presents an opportunity to move from diagnosing problems to designing concrete solutions.
What to expect from the September event
– High-level panels with ministers and senior officials, industry roundtables, and networking opportunities aimed at linking policymakers with private‑sector project leads.
– Practical sessions likely to focus on investment-ready opportunities (cold‑chain and processing for agri-exports, renewable and agro‑PV projects, tourism and BPO expansion, and digital connectivity upgrades).
– A chance for Fiji delegates to seek New Zealand partners for joint ventures, technology transfer and capacity-building projects that grow exports and create jobs.
Why this matters
Bringing government and business leaders together in Auckland—and synchronising with a Fiji-led trade mission—creates momentum for turning strategic intent into investment and trade flows. Addressing the operational barriers that companies repeatedly raise (logistics, tax, skills and connectivity) will be as important as promoting market opportunities; progress on both fronts is necessary to meet the 2030 trade objective.
Summary
The joint councils’ conference on September 11, paired with Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica’s trade mission, renews an active push to deepen New Zealand–Fiji commercial ties and support the shared $2 billion trade target by 2030. The event aims to combine strategic dialogue with practical matchmaking to unlock projects across agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, digital services and more.
Additional comments and suggestions to add value
– Organisers could publish a pre-conference investor brief outlining priority projects and regulatory hurdles, so investors arrive prepared for targeted discussions.
– Consider dedicated sessions on (a) cold‑chain and food processing to add value to Fijian agricultural exports, (b) improving air and sea logistics, and (c) digital infrastructure and skills development to enable more BPO and tech partnerships.
– A post-conference monitoring framework—tracking leads, MOUs and follow-up timelines—would help convert meetings into measurable outcomes and demonstrate progress toward the $2 billion goal.
– Encouraging pilot projects (e.g., an Agro‑PV demonstration or a joint cold‑chain investment) could provide early wins and attract wider investor interest.
Positive outlook
With continued government backing, active business councils and a pattern of practical missions and forums, the relationship between New Zealand and Fiji has the structure and momentum to expand trade meaningfully. If policymakers and private sector partners use the September conference to address both opportunities and persistent barriers, the $2 billion target becomes more attainable—and the resulting investment could drive jobs, higher-value exports and stronger regional ties.
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