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Vuvale Magazine Final Vuvale A n u p d a t e o n a l l F i j i a n t h i n g s E c o n o m i c P o l i t i c a l C u l t u r a l Vuvale Pronunciation: Voo.varl.lay. Vuvale is Fijian for family. Contents DOING BUSINESS IN FIJI NEW OFFICE, NEW FOCUS Mr. Zarak Khan explains the importance of our Prime Minister Voreque Bainimarama opened offices when doing business with Fiji. the FCGTC new office in Sydney. p.03 p.04 A WINNING NIGHT FOR WOWS KIDS FIJI DAY UNITES ALL FIJIANS Prime Minister Voreque Bainimarama Over $30,000 raised for the charity that celebrated Fiji Day in Sydney. supports Fijian children with cancer. p.06 p.05 A DAY WITH: DIWALI LIGHTS UP BARBARA WARD THE FIJI TRADE COMMISSION We spend a day with Australia India Business Sydney and Auckland offices hosted a "Diwali Council's President to talk about her career Dinner". Both events gathered distinguished achievements and her close relationship with Fiji. guests. p.07 p.08 FIJI CELEBRATES NEW ZEALAND BUSINESSES SUCCESS Fiji Trade Commission was honoured to sponsor the 11th edition of the Indian Business Awards in New Zealand. p.09 Doing Business in Fiji Consul General & Trade Commissioner to Australia & New Zealand Mr. Zarak Khan welcomes you to our first edition of Vuvale. Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Assalaam waleikum, Noa’ia and Greetings to all, The Fiji Consulate General & Trade Commission Offices in Sydney, Australia & Auckland, New Zealand, share important information for people travelling to or seeking information to invest in Fiji. Fijians and visitors to Fiji can benefit from a range of different consular services and seek support when establishing their businesses in Fiji. Fijian exporters can also utilise our services to identify market access opportunities in Australia & New Zealand. With offices in Sydney and Auckland, we host numerous business networking and industry trade events throughout the year that promote the many exciting trade and investment opportunities for Fijians and foreign investors. Fiji is much more than an exotic holiday destination with world-class resorts and world- famous hospitality. It is also an ideal trade and investment destination that is home to many global businesses, multilateral organisations and the hub of the Pacific region for agriculture, tourism, education services, transportation, ICT and manufacturing, amongst other sectors. Whether you are looking forward to your next holiday in Fiji, wanting to export Fijian products to Australia and New Zealand or looking to invest – our team is ready to help make your vision a reality. Please enjoy the first edition of our digital magazine “Vuvale” which will provide you with more information about our progress over the past six months and don't forget to visit www.investinfiji.today for new investment opportunities. V U V A L E | 0 3 New Office, New Focus Prime Minister Hon. Frank Bainimarama The head of government added that Fiji officially opened the new Fiji Consulate remains a favoured destination for Aussie General & Trade Commission, Australia & New tourists, with tourism earnings from the Zealand, Sydney office, in October 2018. Australian market achieving a historic high last year of nearly one billion Fijian dollars. While speaking at the event Hon. Frank Bainimarama said that the opening of the Fiji “Our two-way trade is steadily on the rise, Trade Office is a recognition of the growing as the Fijian economy has soared to a strength of Fiji’s relationship with Australia. record nine straight years of economic growth, and confidence in Fiji is sky-high as "We're leaving old disagreements in the past, seen in the nearly half a billion dollars’ where they belong, and we're writing a new worth of Australian investment into our chapter in our partnership – putting Fiji and country last year,” Hon. Bainimarama said. Australia in a position to take our cooperation to historic heights, particularly The office also offers consular services to when it comes to opening up new and greater the 100,000 Fijians who live in Australia, flows of trade and investment," said Hon. the majority of which reside in New South Frank Bainimarama. Wales. V U V A L E | 0 4 On the 19th of October 2018, the Fijian A Winning Prime Minister Hon. Frank Bainimarama hosted Fiji Day WOWS Charity Gala at the Shangri-la Hotel in Sydney. Over $30,000 was raised for WOWS Kids Fiji, the PM’s Night for chosen charity that supports children with cancer. WOWS The charity is inspired by the memory of a little girl, Tae Kami, who called both Fiji and Tonga her home and tragically lost her battle with cancer at the young age of 15. Kids The PM also highlighted that the Fijian Government are erecting and upgrading medical facilities and schools, by building new roads, jetties and bridges, and by fostering modern IT development, "WOWS Kids Fiji is a charity telecommunications, and other new-age that I am extremely passionate industries, we are bringing Fiji into the fold about; it holds a very special of a developed and dynamic 21st-century place in both my heart and economy. that of my wife, Mary." Thank you to the Fijian Committee for all Hon. Frank your hard work to organise such a fabulous Bainimarama event and to everyone who attended. V U V A L E | 0 5 Fiji Day unites all Fijians Celebrations were attended by the Hon. Prime Minister & dignitaries. This grand celebration is held On the 19th of October 2018, Fijians in Australia annually and commemorates the Independence of Fiji, celebrated the 48th anniversary of our political which took place on the 10th of October 1970. independence. The event was full of traditional performances, Fiji Day was celebrated in Sydney at Woodward Park in dresses, music and food. A great moment of unity and Liverpool. joy for all Fijians in Sydney. V U V A L E | 0 6 A Day with: Barbara Ward Why are you so passionate about Fiji? Australia Indian Business Council When I first got here, it took me some time to establish myself, I was President talks about her journey as busy and didn’t have the time to get involved. As I grew older, I a women leader. started to feel nostalgic about Fiji, I began to realise all the wonderful things that Fiji has to offer. I am passionate about doing things for the Barbara Ward moved from Fiji to Australia in people in Fiji. I am who I am today because I was born in Fiji; it is a the 70’s. Barbara is the founder and the CEO wonderful country. of Impact One. Prior to that she was the What changes and developments in Fiji have surprised you Managing Director of the Sydney Adventist and made you happy? Hospital, the largest private hospital in NSW. When I came out in the 70’s we didn’t have TV in Fiji; when I went Barbara is the President of the Australia India back ten years later the changes were massive. Every time I go to Fiji, Business Council and is on the board of the I see changes, the main ones are in infrastructure like the airports, the roads, the hospitals and schools. I also found that people are Australia Asia Business Council and Australia more well educated, locals seem to be taking a lot more interest in Chinese Business Council. Fiji. It is growing exponentially. What message can you send to inspire and motive young girls in Fiji? Any advice on how to become a strong leader? When people look at me today, they see this wonderful woman who is full of confidence and has achieved so much, but you know what? I was a timid little girl who could hardly open her mouth. So, my message is, have confidence in yourself, know what you want, what your dreams are and follow them! Do it strategically, focus on your vision and always be kind. The best advice I can give to the young girls is, have your basic education and follow your dreams. It doesn’t matter if you don’t go to university, you can do anything, nothing is impossible, just go for it! What would you say is the greatest achievement of your career? There are a couple of things that happen in my life, but one of the things that has always helped me in my journey is my faith. I was able to raise $23M for the Sydney Adventist Hospital in three years and built a health care centre, that was one of the most wonderful achievements. Click here to see the full interview: How do you see the Australia-Fiji bilateral relationship evolving over the next few years? There is a great interest in the Pacific region. I feel that Australia is sympathetic to some of our issues in the Pacific; our PM Scott Morrison is an amazing man who is very passionate about what we do. I think it is a great time to be doing things together, we can leverage our businesses and cultures together and work in a beautiful way. V U V A L E | 0 7 Fiji Celebrates New Zealand Businesses Success On November 26 2018, Indian Newslink, the most widely circulated Indian newspaper in New Zealand, celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Indian Business Awards. The Fiji Trade Commission to NZ was proud to be a key sponsor and participate in the event. These awards recognise and reward Indian businesses success in New Zealand.
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