Fiji’s Coalition Government has launched its National Development Plan (NDP) for 2025-2029, along with a long-term Vision 2050, focusing on three core pillars: economic resilience, people empowerment, and good governance.
The 216-page document also outlined targets to be achieved, including an average annual growth rate of 4-5%, with a focus on enhancing macroeconomic confidence and stability. The plan targets reducing the net fiscal deficit to 2.5% of GDP and maintaining the national debt at 74% of GDP.
The government is committed to reducing the poverty rate to 18% by 2030. Key initiatives include improving access to clean and safe water for 88% of the population and achieving 100% renewable energy for electricity generation.
In infrastructure development, the plan outlines sealing 500 kilometres of rural roads and increasing electricity access to 93% of rural communities. Urban development efforts will prioritise improving liveability and climate resilience.
Governance reforms are crucial to the NDP, aiming to increase Fiji’s Corruption Perception Index to 60 and maintain a civil service workforce of 25,000.
Other major targets include increasing life expectancy to 75 years by 2030, ensuring 100% primary and secondary school enrollment, boosting tertiary education enrollment to 50%, reducing the unemployment rate below 4%, and increasing female labour force participation to 50%. The plan also seeks to achieve 100% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from 2005 levels, expand internet access to 95% of the population, and improve urban infrastructure to enhance resilience against climate impacts.
Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad, in his address, underscored the plan’s role in addressing Fiji’s global, regional, and national challenges.
“The NDP represents a commitment to openness and transparency,” he said pointing out that the document’s compilation stemmed from a year of consultations, starting with the National Economic Summit in April last year.
Prasad highlighted that the NDP is not solely a governmental responsibility but a collective effort involving businesses, civil society, and citizens. He encouraged everyone, including youth, women, and marginalised groups, to view the plan as their own and commit to building a resilient, inclusive Fiji.
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka who was not in attendance, reiterated the significance of the plan, stating that it sets a new path towards prosperity. The plan, he noted, is a comprehensive policy document designed to guide resource allocation and development agendas over the next five years while laying a foundation for the next 25 years. He acknowledged progress made despite global challenges like the pandemic and economic crises. Kamikamica reiterated the need for unity and action to address issues like public confidence, economic stability, and basic services.
PS Finance Shiri Gounder echoed the same sentiments highlighting the importance of effective implementation and urged all sectors to actively support and operationalise the plan, starting with government agencies who will be required to integrate the NDP into their corporate plans and “making it part of their everyday outputs and decision-making process.”
“We will also actively engage with all our development partners and the multilateral financial institutions to coordinate the financial and technical support that is needed to effectively implement this plan. We will also work closely with the private sector, the CSOs, and other stakeholders, in operationalising this plan to keep everyone accountable.”
The Ministry of Finance will oversee the execution through a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.
Progress on these targets will be monitored through several mechanisms:
- Mid-Term Reviews: Conducted every two years to evaluate strategy effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Specific KPIs will be established for each target to measure progress quantitatively.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Regular consultations with communities, businesses, and civil society will ensure inclusive and participatory development.
