A regional academic says Fiji’s profile on the world stage has been enhanced with the recent state visits by the political leaders of India and China.

USP’s Doctor Sandra Tarte says Fiji is heralding in a new era increasing its political influence not only on the global front but in the region as well.

“The big challenge for Fiji is always been finding new Export market and I think China’s announcements in recent times goes some ways of encouraging exports to their market and India perhaps will be another opening for us, we’re obviously interested in investment as well as technical cooperation, but Fiji doesn’t rely on AID so much as our neighboring countries, Fiji relies on trying to develop its infrastructure, its using loans for that, its trying to diversify its markets and so on.”

And while these high level visits are spinning Fiji to a global audience, Tarte notes the armour it lends to Fiji as a regional power

“The opportunity has now arisen for these leaders from these neighboring countries, some of whom haven’t been to Fiji for quite some time and are able to come and it creates openings where for us in the region because what Fiji doesn’t want to do is be presumptuous of its leadership role without bringing countries behind it and it needs to have the support of the countries in the region.”

Heralding in a new era, Tarte says while this as much about India and China broadening their influence in the region… it also sets the platform for a new Fiji