Fiji seeks Indian investment, expertise for IT industries

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) Fiji today sought Indian investment technology transfer and expertise for training of Fijian technicians for development of call centres, centralised database centres and back room operations.

''Fiji has begun to realise the potential in labour-intensive IT industries such as call centres and services centres, where Fiji could become an IT hub in the region, servicing Australia and New Zealand as well as other developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region'' said Fiji Minister of Commerce and Industries Adi Sivia Tokadei Qoro.

Ms Qoro said there was an urgent need for collaboration of the tourism industry of Fiji and India. Such collaboration, she said, would enhance the Fiji-India Air Services Agreement and for India, there was a big investment opportunity in retirement village hotels and resorts, hospitals and health tourism, eco tourism, timeshare hotels and resorts, villas and restaurants.

The High Commissioner of Fiji in India Luke Rokovada, said the governments of Fiji and India are discussing a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and also reviewing the Air Services Agreement.

When finalised, these instruments will free-up the movement of capital and labour, leading to greater cross border investment and business.

''The message that I would like to impart today is that Fiji is serious about doing business and its is serious about doing business with India,'' the High Commissioner pointed out.

Fiji's competitiveness lies in preferential access to Australia and New Zealand, other Asia-Pacific markets, the European Union EU under the Cotonou Agreement and Japan under Generalized System of Preferences. It also has bilateral and regional trade agreements with the Pacific island countries.

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