Fiji Trade Commission

Sectors for Export Business
The sectors that have been performing reasonably well in terms of exports to USA and Canada are given below. Fiji, however, welcomes proposals for new export industries especially those emerging from business innovations involving new technology.

	RESOURCE BASED SECTORS • Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, livestock • Fisheries: aquaculture and mari-culture • Forestry: furniture, sawn timber, interior and building components • Mineral: water, metal exploration and mining
	Processing industries and value adding are highly attractive especially for prepared foods and sea food and agro-products.

	MANUFACTURING SECTOR • Textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) • Food and Beverage • Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics • Forestry products – furniture and other household products

Export Incentives
The Fiji Government has setup an Incentives Package with the aim of encouraging increased investments in export businesses. Foreign investments in export related activities are welcomed especially because they introduce capital, expertise and technology which make significant contribution to Fiji's economic development. Joint ventures are highly encouraged to stimulate local entrepreneurship.

Amongst the incentives provided to exporters, the Government offers generous tax deductions on export income. In addition, the Import Substitution and Export Finance Facilities of the Reserve Bank of Fiji makes available F$40 million through the banking system to eligible businesses at concessionary interest rates. This facility can now be accessed for renewable energy, in addition to agriculture and aquaculture.

This section contains downloadable files highlighting the Fiji Government's Investment Incentives Package.

Click here for Export Incentives » (courtesy of Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau)

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FIJI-USA TRADE

Data from the US Department of Commerce shows that in 2010, exports from Fiji to the US increased by 24.3 percent on an annual basis to US$179.1 million. On the other hand, imports of American products into Fiji were valued at US$44.0 million for the same period, a year-on-year increase of 41.0 percent. In 2010, Fiji's merchandise trade surplus with the US rose to US$135.1 million, from US$112.9 million in the previous year.

Latest data shows that in the first 6 months of the 2011, Fiji's exports into US amounted to US$74.1 million, an increase of 7.3 percent from the same period last year. Cumulative to June 2010, Fiji's exports into the US was recorded at US$69 million. Fiji's imports from the US was much lower, at US$14.3 million in the first 6 months of the 2011, compared with US$21.3 million in the same period in 2010. Fiji recorded a trade surplus with the US in the first half of the year valued at US$60 million, up from the US$48 million of the previous year.

Fiji's major exports to the US include tuna loins, artesian mineral water, mahogany, sugar and molasses, fresh and whole fish, beverages, garments (knitted), body oils and lotions, root crops and vegetables, corals and shells (non-live). Aircraft and related parts, cell phones and pharmaceutical products constitute the major imports into Fiji from the USA.

FIJI-CANADA TRADE

In 2010, exports from Fiji to Canada amounted to US$4.8 million, representing a decline of 14.1 percent on an annual basis. The decline in Fiji’s exports into Canada were a result of lower exports of mineral and aerated waters, fisheries products, vegetables and certain garment products. However, a considerable increase was noted in the export of mahogany from Fiji to Canada during the year, although they were still valued at around US$0.7 million. Export of coconut oil and certain food products also saw a healthy growth.

Imports from Canada into Fiji for the same period amounted to US$4.1 million. This represented a drop of 19.5 percent on an annual basis. The significant decline in imports in 2010 reflects mainly a sizable fall in coin imports. In contrast, imports of parts and accessories for machines, potatoes, antibiotics and surveying equipment recorded a growth, when compared with the previous year. Fiji’s trade surplus with Canada was recorded at US$0.7 million in 2010, a slight improvement from the $0.5 million recorded in 2009.

Latest data shows that Fiji’s exports into Canada was US$1.4 million in the first 5 months of the year, less than half of what was recorded for the same period last year (US$3.0 million). While exports have fallen, Fiji has also been importing much more from Canada this year than it was doing last year. Total imports from Canada, cumulative to May 2011 was US$2.130 million, up from US$1.1 million recorded in the first 5 months of last year. Hence, Fiji recorded a trade deficit with Canada of US$0.7 million, a turnaround from the trade surplus of $1.9 million recorded for the first 5 months of 2010.

Fiji's major exports to Canada recently include mineral water (including aerated), timber (including mahogany), fisheries products (coral, molluscs, fish fillets, tuna etc), biscuits and on a small scale, fresh meat and other food products. Majority of Fiji's imports from Canada consisted mainly of 'other articles –iron or steel', dried and shelled peas, machines for working wood, and Graders and Levellers.