It is on all of us to be focused, positive and prudent about our future - Konrote

President Jioji Konrote says if we treat our economy like a political football and choose to play fast and loose with the truth, we can very well talk ourselves into panic and crumble economic confidence from within.

While opening the new Parliamentary session this morning, Konrote says he assures people, the Fijian people – particularly our young people will not look kindly on any who seek to undermine their economy, their jobs, their investments or their financial security.

Konrote says whether you are an elected leader – on either side of this political divide -a business owner, a member of civil society or our various professions, or a breadwinner in your household, it is on all of us to be focused, positive and prudent about our future.

The President says never has our nation been better equipped to seize new opportunities, harness our ingenuity and propel our economy forward to new records of growth and new achievement.

He adds it can be done, it will be done, so long as we stay true to the proven management that has carried our economy to historic strength.

Konrote says we have taken on the hard lessons of cyclones Winston, Keni, Josie and Gita by building resilience across that network of national infrastructure. He says we are building roads and expanding telecommunications into rural and remote communities granting them access to markets, goods, and services, eliminating location as a barrier to participation in our growing economy.

The President says they are serving the landowners with real opportunities to put their land to productive use and take up larger roles in our national development. He adds they are backing innovative, game-changing ideas from our entrepreneurs – particularly young Fijians – with seed capital to turn their ideas into engines of economic growth.