One thousand-seven hundred business permits were processed by the Ministry of Environment in the last fiscal year.

Permanent Secretary, Joshua Wycliffe says these statistics continue to increase over the years.

Wycliffe says the permit will only be given to investors and business developers upon meeting the standard requirements as well as the environmental impact assessment.

He adds the figure is a clear testament that Fiji is a honey pot for business and tourism development.

“In the last fiscal year alone and our record showed we have facilitated businesses amounting to over $2 billion Fijian dollars in the last year alone, and also we have processed 1, 700 applications overall as a department”.

Wycliffe reiterated that the Ministry will continue to play a win-win game in ensuring that the environment is well protected in relation to the growth of commercial development in Fiji.