The 2012 Fiji Day commemoration cocktail was held as part of the 2012 Fiji/Korea investment seminar with a view to forging partnerships and moving forward together on Oct. 9, 2012 at the convention hall, Hotel Crown, Itaewon, Seoul.

Amb. Filimone Kau of Fiji

Government officials who were on hand at the celebration, included Commander Viliame Naupoto-Minister for Youth & Sports, Governor Barry Whiteside from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Permanent Secretary Filmone Waqabaca from the Ministry of Finance, CEO Ravuni Uluilakeba from the Investment Fiji, Deputy Secretary Malakai Todulala from the Ministry of Works, Transport & Public Utilities, Chief Economist Caroline Waqaboco from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Deputy Secretary David Kolitagane from the Ministry of Finance and Mr. Daisy Park from the Tourism Fiji.
Korean guests included Vice Chairman Hur Won-joon of Hanwha Chemical, President Jang Young-jin of Hyoshin Solvert Limited, Senior Advisor of fm industrial, and Planning Dept. Department Head Kim Ju-yeong from the MND Outplacement Service Center etc. who are interested in investing in Fiji or are already investing there.
During the investment seminar, the Reserve Bank of Fiji reported that the domestic economy of the Republic of Fiji is forecast to expand by 2.7 percent in 2012, following an estimated growth of 1.9 percent last year, led by agriculture, fishing; and hotels & restaurants.

▲ Amb. Kau of Fiji (third from right, front row) poses with participants of the Fiji Investment seminar, held at the Hotel Crown on Oct. 9, 2012 to commemorate the 2012 Fiji Day.

In a report on political & economic developments in Fiji, government officials on hand at the investment seminar agreed: “Given Fiji’s smallness and openness and distance from export markets, which underlie our high vulnerability to economic shocks, the need for more diversification and therefore the expenditing of key structural reforms in the economy are crucial”.