Fiji’s good neighbour

How Australia works at the Job of being Fiji’s good neighbour

The cost of staging the fair is expected to be about $250,000. Seventy of the 71 displays will be by private enterprise. The Australian Government will have one stand, staffed by a business specialist, who will help Fiji businessmen interested in exporting to Australia.

Fiji and Australia are neighbours ith a common interest in the xmomic advancement of the Pacific ;gion, and thus the important and >ng-standing trade partnership be tween them has been a natural de dopment.

Australia is well-placed to supply variety of the manufactured and dustrial products which Fiji needs • assist in its own development pro ammes, and at the same time it is i increasingly important market for iji’s exports. The value of two-way ade has increased steadily to reach record 5A57.8 million in 1973-74.

Australia exports to Fiji machinery, etals and manufactures, iron and sel, rice, wheat, flour, sporting >ods, toys, chemicals and a variety ? other products. The value of ese exports in 1973-74 was 5A49.9 illion, compared with 5A40.8 illion in 1972-73 and only $A19.9 illion in 1969.70.

Australia’s imports from Fiji in ade unrefined gold bullion, coconut I, molasses, wood, timber and cork id other products, the total of which ached a record SAB.4 million in *73-74 —nearly double the 1971-72 tal of $A4.3.

To a large extent, the deficit in ade between the two countries is fset by proceeds of the important urist industry which employs 20 r cent of Fiji’s work force, and a major contributor to the country’s reign exchange receipts. Australians e the largest national group of sitors to Fiji and Australia is an tablished supplier of building aterials, catering and transport uipment, food and other items aich Fiji needs for the continuing owth of the tourist industry.

Australia recognises that any althy trading partnership between 3 two countries must benefit both of em. In accordance with this belief, has a record of practical assistance ued at helping countries like Fiji overcome their development prob ns and improve the level of their ports. In 1966, Australia became 3 first nation to offer assistance to e developing countries, including ji, to obtain increased export oppor

timities for their products through a system of tariff preferences.

In January, 1974, it revised and expanded this system, providing preferential entry for manufactures, semi-manufactures and substantiallyprocessed primary products except for revenue items (cigarettes, spirits, etc) and some products where deve oping countries are already competitive. Quotas have been abolished on all except about 50 items. Duty free and quota-free treatment for handicraft products has been retained but with a revised definition of handicratts.

For exporters in Fiji seeking a better understanding of the Austrahan market and of the selling and other techniques associated with it, assistance and advice is available from the Australian Trade Commis-

sioner in Suva and from Australia’s Department of Overseas Trade through its market assistance section in Canberra.

Australia demonstrated its concern f or encouraging equitable two-way trade with its Padfic neighbours by supporting the three priorities agreed on hy the island countries and accepted by the South Pacific Forum, These are • Development of further process ing of primary products; • The rationalisation of import substitution industries; and • The establishment of export oriented manufacturing industries as a means of encouraging and developing viable economies, Australia sees its role as taking an

active part in the work of the Forum and its South Pacific Bureau of Economic Co-operation (SPEC), par ticularly in efforts to advance the economic development of the Islands.

The Forum, established in 1971, has been increasingly concerned with trade matters. As well as being fellow-members of the Forum, Fiji and Australia are linked through a number of other organisations pro moting regional development and co operation. These include the South Pacific Commission, the purpose of which is “to encourage and strengthen international co-operation in promot ing the economic and social welfare and advancement of peoples of the South Pacific region”.

Australia contributes 31 per cent af the SPC’s agreed budget as well as making other donations.

Australia seeks to be a good leighbour by contributing to the de velopment of the region through the Jouth Pacific Commission, the Asian Development Bank, the UN’s De velopment Programme and the World "ood Programme. Australia con ributed financially to the develop nent of Nadi International Airport.

It has supplied Fiji with equipment, raining and experts under the Aus ralian South Pacific Technical Assis ance Programme. Under the Com monwealth Co-operation in Education Scheme, Fiji teachers and students lave trained in Australia and Aus ralian educationists have visited Fiji.

Australian private investment has •layed an important role in the de elopment of the Fiji economy over very long period. Australian firms i Fiji are active in banking, news apers, hotels, breweries, as mer hants, in shipping and air services, uilding, and a variety of other fields, tivate investment from abroad has ad a major part in assisting local idustry to meet the demand for a videning range of goods and services.

The Australian Government en □urages and promotes Australian ivestment in developing countries, articularly where it is on a joint enture basis and where the invest lent is in accordance with the :onomic and social development riorities of host countries.

As trading partners Fiji and Aus alia share a number of advantages icluding geographic proximity, regu ir shipping and air services and amparatively short delivery times, hese factors, together with the long ssociation between the two countries, lould provide a background for jntinued economic co-operation.