Trade between Fiji and USA in 2018 was worth $510.4M - Kumar

The total value of US investment projects implemented in Fiji from 2012 until 2018 was $366.8 million which created a total of 2,833 jobs for Fijians.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Industry and Trade, Premila Kumar while speaking at the Fiji and USA Business Council AGM at Peninsula.

Kumar says the US has been among the top five principal trading partners and has been Fiji's number one export destination for the past five years.

She highlighted that the two-way trade between the two countries was worth $510.4 million in 2018 that emphasized the importance of the US market for Fijians.

Premila Kumar and the executive members of the Fiji and USA Business Council

Kumar says that Fijian products such as bottled water, tuna, sugar, taro, ginger and pre‑packed food items have already entered the US market adding that tremendous amount of potential exists to further expand the products exported.

She also highlighted that products that are eligible for duty‑free treatment under the scheme include manufactured items, chemicals, minerals and building stone, jewellery and certain agricultural and fisheries products.

Kumar also revealed that a major success story is the export of Fijian Kava to the US market, which has increased by over 400% since 2015 adding that the US also the largest market for Fijian Kava exports.

Kumar also reiterated that in 2018 alone, a total of 870,309 visitors visited Fiji, out of which 86,075 were US visitors which  is our third largest source market.

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