Investment Fiji has become the latest public statutory organisation to join the “I don’t accept bribes’ campaign.
The anti-bribery campaign is a joint nationwide initiative by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with the UN Development Programm (UNDP) under the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) project funded by the New Zealand Government.
The launch of the anti-bribery campaign took place on Wednesday, April 13 2022, in the presence of executives from Investment Fiji and representatives from FICAC and UNDP.
The launch alongside the badging ceremony was of significant importance as the campaign is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and specifically Sustainable Development Goal 16 which calls for countries to improve their governance systems and fight corruption.
In his keynote address, Acting Chief Executive Officer Kamal Chetty said that Investment Fiji has always remained professional and transparent in its role as an agency that is committed to developing a sustainable and successful nation by stimulating investment and exports.
“Our ethical standards are reflective of who we are and while we are in the transition phase of shifting towards a fully-fledged Investment Promotion Agency, the Government has a lot of expectations from us. Hence, I understand this is an opportune time to train our employees on anti-bribery measures in order to protect our organization from any corruption-related risks,” Mr Chetty said.
Bribery and corruption have always been an obstacle to economic growth and their detrimental and direct effect often lead to a decrease in the productivity level.
Mr Chetty said the widespread corruption deters investment, weakens economic growth, and undermines the rule of law.
Speaking at the launch, FICAC’s Manager Corruption Prevention, Kolora Celua said Investment Fiji, being Fiji’s peak investment agency, have a critical role to play in engaging with foreign investors and exporters; and in doing so, must maintain its integrity as an independent and a transparent investment promotion agency.
UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Anti-Corruption Adviser, Sonja Stefanovska – Trajanoska said “If Fiji’s economy is to continue to grow, if national prosperity is to increase further, and if skilled jobs for young people are to become more plentiful, bribery and corruption cannot be allowed to play even the smallest part in any investment or trade promotion decisions. The ‘I don’t accept bribes’ badges are a significant symbol not only of Investment Fiji’s commitment to integrity, but also of its determination to deliver a more prosperous and fairer future for everyone in Fiji.”
