TRADE flows between Fiji and China have been flourishing in recent years and over the past five years, average exports to China totaled $108.6million while imports averaged $742.7m.
Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar said total two-way trade between Fiji and China reached its peak in 2018, amounting to $1.05billion.
Speaking at the official launch of the Macau-Fiji Chamber of Commerce, Mrs Kumar said 277 Chinese investment projects were successfully implemented over the last five-years with a worth of approximately $2.36b.
“Tourism is Fiji’s major export and foreign exchange earner. Fiji is known for its cultural diversity, beautiful landscape and friendly people. In recent years, China has become Fiji’s most rapidly growing market,” Mrs Kumar said.
“The Chinese annual arrivals in Fiji in the past five years have grown from 28,333 in 2014 to 49,271 in 2018, registering an increase of around 74 per cent.
“Though the numbers are small by Chinese standard, the trend is very encouraging particularly when Fiji’s tourism development strategy has been focusing on high-end, high yield tourism, rather than mass tourism.”
She said the number of direct flights from Hong Kong to Nadi has also increased from 2 to 5 per week.
More in tomorrow’s Business section of The Fiji Times.
