The Ministry of Industry and Trade intends to launch a three year plan for the “Fijian Made & Buy Fijian Campaign”.

The acting Prime Minister and Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum met with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation on the long term sustainability of the Fijian Made – Buy Fijian brand.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Bainimarama Government has set half a million dollars for the campaign, to be carried forward for the next three years.

“The focus is to create more awareness. There are plans to have essay competitions for high school students so that they are more aware of the campaign. We have flyers and billboards which are in Suva but not a huge presence in the West. We are also thinking of awareness in Vanualevu. The focus primarily is public awareness on the campaign,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Mr Himen Chandra from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) said issues such as waste water surcharge, infrastructure inefficiency, FEA tariff, bio-security cost and license fees will be looked into by the Ministry for Industry and Trade.

“The private sector is totally committed to the campaign and the response from the consumers is very positive. After labeling our products with the campaign logo and advertising, people are asking for the Fijian made products,” Mr Chandra said.

FCEF CEO Mr Nesbitt Hazelman said at the end of the day, businesses want a one-stop shop for doing business in terms of acquiring business license, compliance fee and have a rationale in the way charges are done.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the emphasis is on the quality and standard of Fijian made products and if branding is done properly, it would also attract the overseas markets.