The private sector is the engine of growth, says Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
While speaking to members of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industries recently, he said Government was working on creating an environment that encouraged local businesses to expand while attracting overseas investment.
“Government’s job is work with the private sector, with NGOs, community groups to ensure that we get the best feedback,” he said.
“A lot of knowledge and experience resides outside of Government and it is our job to work with the people and deliver policies.
“We have had a lot of discussions over the last six months through various forums to improve some of these services.”
He said he agreed with some of the concerns being raised by the some of the members of the Chamber.
“We are working on it and we have set up thematic groups that are looking at ways to improve these processes.”
NCCI president Dr Ram Raju said one of the main concerns was the ease of setting up businesses in Fiji.
He said the processes were time consuming and cost a lot of foreign investors to look elsewhere.
Dr Raju said it was time that Government changed these processes to encourage more investment for local and foreign investors.
