Govt assistance helps Fiji garment sector bloom

Council president Kalpesh Solanki said through the assistance given to the industry’s marketing strategy, they were able to increase sales by $10-12million and provide employment to five hundred more people in the last three years.

Ministry of Industry and Trade permanent secretary, Shaheen Ali said the TCF industry has been growing despite highly challenging competitive international markets.

“This marketing support fund will help them- re-organise, become more durable and flexible in the face of pending global challenges,” Mr Ali said.

The Government has committed $300,000 to the industry with $100,000 released annually to assist the council in promoting itself in the United States and European markets through participation in road-shows and trade exhibitions to create awareness.

“One of the hallmarks of the Bainimarama Government is that we have consistent policies to support our businesses and our private sector,” Mr Ali said.

Mr Solanki said, “It’s not getting any easier and as pointed out, we are facing very stiff competition from the Asian low cost, very high volume producers so we have to position ourselves to high value and niche products and that requires fairly active and high profile marketing.”

Another support given by the Fijian Government to the industry in penetrating into the Melanesian Spearhead Group market is now bearing positive results.

Mr Solanki said in an effort to explore secondary markets to traditional ones such as Australia and New Zealand, a strong contingent accompanied Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to Papua New Guinea earlier this year.

“This meeting was successful as a few of the TCF members have started doing business in PNG,” Mr Solanki added.

Mr Ali said the MSG was becoming very important with significant developments seen in the last two years.

“The gains we have made in bringing the MSG economies together and marching towards the single market economic union can really benefit the economies of MSG countries and also our various sectors including garments,” Mr Ali said.

The Fijian Government