Fiji is preparing for a significant economic shift by developing stronger, more flexible, and technology-driven supply chains to firmly establish itself in the global marketplace.
Permanent Secretary for Trade, Shaheen Ali mentioned this during the Vinod Patel Supply Chain Conference 2025 where he highlighted the government’s proactive efforts to establish Fiji as a reliable trade partner by utilizing international agreements and modernizing local business processes to attract investment and drive economic growth.
Ali emphasized Fiji’s unique position as the sole South Pacific nation participating in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework’s Supply Chain Agreement, sharing concrete achievements such as the recent reduction of proposed US tariffs on major exports from 32 percent to 15 percent, a success secured through direct diplomatic negotiations.
Ali says that in today’s connected global economy, no country’s supply chains operate in isolation — it is essential to be present where decisions and standards are established.
He says that within the country, Fiji is transforming business processes through the businessNOW platform by reducing bureaucracy and accelerating approvals — aiming to provide 25 e-services by 2025 and digitize 80 percent of essential services by 2030.
He added that with innovations like the Fiji Trade Information Portal and the soon-to-be-launched National Single Window System, Fiji is simplifying trade procedures to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.
Ali called for collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop resilient and flexible supply chains that showcase Fiji’s capabilities and long-term vision.
He emphasized that Fiji’s digital transformation and trade initiatives are designed to enable every local business to succeed on the global stage.
