REPUBLIC OF FIJI ECONOMIC AND FISCAL UPDATE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 2021-2022 BUDGET ADDRESS Ministry of Economy 16 July 2021 FOREWORD The Supplement to the 2021-2022 Budget Address discusses Fiji’s current macroeconomic and fiscal position and forward projections for the next three years. The 2021-2022 Budget builds on key measures that were introduced in the 2020-2021 Budget to support economic recovery, rejuvenate private sector activity, protect jobs, assist the unemployed and maintain overall macro-fiscal sustainability. This document was compiled by the Ministry of Economy in consultation with other Government ministries, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and the Reserve Bank of Fiji. The information contained in this document is current as of July 2021. Shiri Gounder Acting Permanent Secretary for Economy 16 July 2021 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: COVID-19 ECONOMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PLAN............................. 5 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 5 COVID-19 CONTAINMENT, VACCINATION AND HERD IMMUNITY ........................................................ 5 INCOME SUPPORT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND VULNERABLE............................................................... 7 SUPPORTING AND REVIVING BUSINESSES ............................................................................................12 FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS REVIVAL......................................................................................13 ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION .............................................................................................................15 Attractive Tax Incentive Packages ........................................................................................... 15 Expenditure Support ................................................................................................................ 17 Raising Productivity ................................................................................................................ 18 MAINTAINING MACRO-FISCAL STABILITY ...........................................................................................19 CHAPTER 2: ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE & OUTLOOK........................................................21 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................21 INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK.................................................................................................................21 FIJI’S TRADING PARTNERS..................................................................................................................22 DOMESTIC OUTLOOK ..........................................................................................................................24 Overview 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 24 Overview 2021 ......................................................................................................................... 24 Overview 2022 and 2023 ......................................................................................................... 25 INFLATION ..........................................................................................................................................25 EXPORTS .............................................................................................................................................26 IMPORTS..............................................................................................................................................26 BALANCE OF PAYMENTS.....................................................................................................................27 MONEY AND CREDIT...........................................................................................................................29 INTEREST RATES .................................................................................................................................29 EXCHANGE RATES ..............................................................................................................................30 MONETARY POLICY AND SUPPORT TO THE FIJI ECONOMY..................................................................30 CHAPTER 3: GOVERNMENT’S FISCAL PERFORMANCE........................................................32 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................32 2019-2020 ACTUAL PERFORMANCE....................................................................................................32 FY2020-2021 REVISED PROJECTIONS.................................................................................................32 FY2021-2022 BUDGET .......................................................................................................................33 OPERATING REVENUE .........................................................................................................................37 OPERATING PAYMENT ........................................................................................................................38 NET CASHFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................39 INVESTING REVENUE ..........................................................................................................................39 INVESTING PAYMENTS ........................................................................................................................39 NET CASHFLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES..................................................................................42 NET DEFICIT .......................................................................................................................................42 CHAPTER 4: MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL STRATEGY ...................................................................43 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................43 MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL STRATEGY .....................................................................................................43 MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................44 CHAPTER 5: GOVERNMENT DEBT AND INVESTMENTS ........................................................50 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................50 GOVERNMENT DEBT ...........................................................................................................................50 3 2 DOMESTIC DEBT STOCK......................................................................................................................51 DOMESTIC INTEREST RATE STRUCTURE .............................................................................................52 EXTERNAL DEBT STOCK .....................................................................................................................52 GOVERNMENT DEBT REDEMPTION PROFILE .......................................................................................54 RISK INDICATORS................................................................................................................................55 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES ...................................................................................................................56 ARREARS OF REVENUE .......................................................................................................................58 LENDING/ON-LENDING FUND .............................................................................................................59 EQUITY INVESTMENT ..........................................................................................................................60 Dividends from Government Investments by Sector ................................................................ 62 DIVESTMENT OF EFL SHARES .............................................................................................................63 CHAPTER 6: EXTERNAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.................................64 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................64 FIJIAN TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................64 UPDATE ON REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS ......................................................64 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION............................................................................................................65 CASH GRANTS.....................................................................................................................................66 AID IN KIND ........................................................................................................................................67 CHAPTER 7: 2021-2022 TAX POLICY MEASURES.......................................................................68 PART 1 – DIRECT TAX MEASURES ......................................................................................................68