The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing $8.6 million to support Fiji’s implementation of the ambitious economic reform programme over the next two years.

The programme will focus on improving fiscal management, strengthening public enterprises, public-private partnerships, and improving the business and investment climate in Fiji.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the funds will help develop the economy.

“This type of assistance and collaboration between our development partners is something that we really welcome and in fact and these are some of the arrangements we made a long time ago and we look forward to further engagement with NZ and various other partners in particular NZ”

New Zealand’s support will be provided through a mix of grant funding to Government agencies, technical advisors, and partnerships with New Zealand Government institutions to enable an exchange of skills, knowledge and systems.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr says Fiji is an important trading partner and they will continue to invest in Fiji.

“We also have a stake in Fiji’s success, Fiji is our 19th largest trading partner, it’s a billion-dollar two way trading relationship, we have about 180,000 New Zealand tourists visiting Fiji every year and also last year we have seen about $115m worth of investment by NZ businesses into Fiji’s economy across 35 different projects”

The fund will also assist the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) to develop modern and streamlined competition and consumer protection laws that promote economic development.

This will include a partnership with New Zealand’s Commerce Commission.