Fiji gets offer to invest in PNG after bilateral meeting

 FIJI Broadcasting Corporation reported that Fiji has been offered new opportunities to invest in Papua New Guinea following a bilateral meeting between Fiji’s Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya and his Papua New Guinea counterpart Richard Maru in Suva last week.

Maru said Papua New Guinea had exciting opportunities for Fijian companies.

“I think it’s mutual and I think we can benefit from a stronger relationship. Not only are we looking at bringing products and talk about opportunities in the Papua New Guinea, but we would like the Fijian Government to arrange for speakers to talk about new and exciting opportunities in Fiji like duty free zones the Fijian government is putting together to attract more investors we have a lot of Papua New Guinea investors keen to invest in the country,” Maru said. 

Fiji’s Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya welcomed the opportunities that have been opened up by Papua New Guinea and said Fiji is looking forward to maximising on them. 

Koya said it was a great opportunity for Fijians who wished to expand and set up business in Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, according to Fiji Sun Online the Papua New Guinea Government had supported Fiji’s position concerning the PACER Plus negotiations. 

Fiji had made its stand that the negotiations have to-date, lacked the development aspect that was imperative and that there were no binding commitments from both Australia and New Zealand.

PACER-Plus is a proposed free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand and the 14 Pacific members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

It was aimed at working towards integrating the Pacific into one market by simplifying and harmonising trade and investment rules and regulations thereby reducing the costs to traders and investors.

Last week, Maru, gave the Papua New Guinea Government’s support on Fiji’s stand whilst on an official visit to Fiji.

Maru is expected to hold a media conference tomorrow to give an overview of the Fiji trip including Papua New Guinea’s position with regards to PACER-Plus