Dr Maraj replies

Fiji and SPARTECA: Dr Maraj replies

Far from “biting a feeding hand,” by its negotiations with Australia for im provements in its SPAR TECA conditions, Fiji was acting within the terms of the agreement and was, in fact, also acting for the benefit not only of its own interests, but also those of all Forum Island countries.

So said Fiji’s High Commission er to Australia, Mr James Maraj, in a letter commenting on the “Tradewinds” article in PIM for July.

“Firstly, I would like to get one point straight,” he wrote.

“The central misconception of the article in question is that Fiji is somehow stepping out of line, or ‘biting a feeding hand’ by negotiating with the Austra lian government for improve ments to the conditions gov erning the entry of its exports to Australia. Yet the SPARTECA agreement, which governs the entry conditions to Australia for these exports, states quite clear ly as its first objective that SPARTECA sets out ’to achieve progressively in favor of Forum Island countries duty-free and unrestricted access to the mar kets of Australia and New Zea land over as wide a range of products as possible.’ Within the framework of this objective, Fiji is quite legitimately pursuing progressive achievements in ac cess conditions for its exports to Australia. Neither is this done at the expense of the other Forum Island countries, since any progress that this pursuit achieves within SPARTECA’s schedules is automatically made available to the other Forum Island countries,” he wrote.

“Secondly, may I assure you and your readers that neither at my meeting with Australia’s minister of trade, Mr John Daw kins, referred to in your article, nor during my speech which opened the Fiji Trade Display at the International Trade Deve lopment Centre in Sydney last April, did I make ’a vehement attack upon SPARTECA.’

What I did do was voice the

concern of the Government of Fiji that while there had been some progress in Fiji’s exports to Australia as a result of SPAR TECA, the expectations which were held for the agreement at its inception, despite the politi cal goodwill expressed, have not been realised in actual progress. The central problem is seen by Fiji to be the rate of progress and in line with the Government of Fiji’s attitude, I said that there was a clear need now for removal of some of the trade barriers which had been encountered. May I say that I have been very encouraged by the sympathetic response that these approaches have re ceived from the Government of Australia and that far from reflecting a tone of hostility these negotiations have been characterised by cordiality and helpfulness,” Mr Maraj said.

The letter went on: “Your article also made the point that the trade display in question had been paid for by the Australian Government. This is quite true, as it is for trade displays held by any developing country at the International Trade Development Centres in Sydney or Melbourne. For its part, Fiji has always gone out of its way to genuinely express its thanks for development assist ance aid received from Austra lia and other aid donors. To do otherwise would be contrary to the traditions of good manners and appreciation for other’s efforts which are an ingrained part of Fiji’s culture. At the trade display in question I stressed the gratefulness of the Govern ment of Fiji and the Fiji exhibi tors for the Government of Australia’s funding of the dis play and for the I.T.D.C.’s assistance in mounting the dis play. Fiji has also made a point at recent talks with Australian Government officials of recor ding its appreciation for trade promotion funding received from the Australian Govern ment under the provisions of Article 8 of SPARTECA.

“The latter part of your article

was devoted to the Fiji Garment Export Industry. In a reading of this section I must take umbrage at any implication that the Fiji Garment Export In dustry is lacking in quality or performance. The Fiji Consu late-General in Sydney has been involved with promoting Fiji garments on an almost daily basis for the last two years and we know for a fact, that in terms of quality and performance, the Fiji garment exporters cannot be faulted. This fact can be easily checked with Australian importers who have dealt with Fiji garments. It may be true that our labor charges are high in comparison with our Asian competitors in the garment trade, but while this does pre sent some costing problems, it is surely something for which the Fiji Garment Industry should be proud.

“Having visited the factories of the Fiji garment exporters and having seen at close hand their performance in the Austra lian marketplace, let me assure your readers that the Fiji Gar ment Export Industry is an excellent example of the type of labor-intensive, export oriented, new industry which

Fiji and the South Pacific Re gion so badly need. In this context it should be kept firmly in mind by all concerned that the second and third objectives of SPARTECA are: ’to acceler ate the development of the Forum Island Countries in particular through the expan sion and diversification of their exports to Australia and New Zealand; to promote and facili tate this expansion and diver sification through the elimina tion of trade barriers.’ The Fiji Garment Export Industry is doing its best to live up to the expectations set by these objec tives, and the industry’s leaders are to be commended for the foresight, commitment and tenaciously hard work that they have put into developing this new export trade.

“Let me stress the import ance that Fiji attaches to seeing the objectives of SPARTECA attained. The development and diversification of Fiji’s exports is crucial to healthy social and economic progress in Fiji, and the fulfilment of SPARTECA’S objectives would go a long way to ensuring this progress. Fiji for its part has been a good neigh bor to Australia as embodied in our close economic links, de fence cooperation and overall political stance. In conclusion then, may 1 assure you and your readers that moves to gain progressive achievement of duty-free and unrestricted ac cess for the exports of Forum Island countries to Australia and New Zealand within the framework of SPARTECA will be actively pursued wherever and whenever appropriate. It is to be earnestly hoped that these moves will attract the support of interest groups which genuinely desire to see the South Pacific region as an area of not just peace and stability, but also of equitable social and economic progress for all the inhabitants of the region.

“Yours sincerely,

James Maraj

Fiji High Commissioner, Canberra. ”

Dr. James A. Maraj