Fiji’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) is asking local businesses to participate in a survey aimed to gauge the economic impact of COVID-19 and find practical solutions.
In a statement, the ministry said the survey, done in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will assess the overall impact of the pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold on the wider Fijian business community, and consider what can be done to adapt in the short, medium and long term to ensure business continuity, recovery and growth.
The statement however, neither outlined how the survey will be rolled out nor instructions as to where and how local businesses can access this survey to allow for their participation.
“The uncertainty of the situation globally and nationally in itself presents a challenge, which was exacerbated by TC Harold. We have made best endeavours to speak to our industry partners to understand how best we can curb the impacts. Without complacency, we want to keep the conversation real time and hear from businesses. Irrespective of how big or small the operation, everyone should have a say,” Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Shaheen Ali said.
Survey findings, Ali said, will also assist in government’s budgetary process, which has commenced, for the next financial year. The information will also form an important basis for Fiji’s development partners to engage with Fiji.
“COVID-19 has affected all economies in the world and the private sector has suffered greatly with some even going out of business,” IFC country representative to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga Kiribati and Tuvalu, Deva De Silva said.
“We will need to be innovative and creative, we can do that in Fiji if we know what the businesses are facing and what their key priorities are. The most important objective of this survey is to hear directly from business sector.”
IFC Pacific representative Deva De Silva
IFC’s work in Fiji is supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand under the Fiji Partnership.
