Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica confirms that, as Cabinet has approved a payment of $22.1 million to offshore film producers, the government’s outstanding film tax rebate liability has decreased to around $30 million.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Kamikamica says the current government inherited close to $200 million in unpaid film rebate commitments from the previous administration, with no repayment plan in place.
He says failure to address the issue could have crippled the local film industry.
Kamikamica states that the government has been progressively settling the debt since taking office and aims to clear the remaining amount this year.
The Deputy Prime Minister notes that the high rebate rate of up to 75 percent under the previous policy led to significant financial losses, and the current rate has now been reduced to 20 percent to make the scheme more sustainable.
He says if those rebates had been set at 20 percent from the beginning, we could have saved around $150 million—funds that could have gone toward infrastructure and other essential areas.
Kamikamica says the government is now managing the film rebate programme more effectively, and major productions such as Survivor and Love Island are pleased with the current approach.
He notes that the presence of these productions provides significant economic benefits, including long hotel bookings, employment for locals, and the growth of local businesses supporting film logistics.
The government is also now exploring support for the music and performing arts sectors, which Kamikamica describes as “massive” areas of potential for Fiji’s creative economy.
He says announcements on this are expected in the coming months.
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