Find Industry and Manufacturing expertise in Fiji

The manufacturing industry in Fiji contributed around US$400 million and 15.08% of the country’s GDP in 2010 (World Bank 2012). The sector employs around 20% of the country’s entire workforce. Fiji is rated 62 out of 185 countries by the World Bank for ease of doing business, a ranking based on how conducive the regulatory environment is to the opening and operation of a local firm.

Products manufactured in Fiji include textiles, food and beverages – particularly mineral water and sugar. Food and beverages accounted for a third of the GDP raised via manufacturing in 2009, although the sugar industry has suffered since 2010. This is accountable to the phasing out of preferential prices paid by the EU for Fijian sugar, as well as a cyclone in 2010 which damaged production.

The textiles industry has likewise faced a challenging situation. Textiles were the primary export sector for Fiji until the end of the 90s; however increased imports from China to the EU have impinged on Fiji’s ability to compete in the global market. The result of this decline is that both sugar and textiles, which accounted for about 50% of merchandise exports in 2002, only represented 25% by 2007.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is the main government agency responsible for implementing industry and manufacturing policy in Fiji and also has responsibility for two statutory bodies: Investment Fiji (IF) and the Consumer Council of Fiji (CCOF).