Fiji

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji’s sugar has special access to European Union markets but will be harmed by the EU’s decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji’s tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector, and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government’s inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly. Fiji’s current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006.

$3.792 billion (2010 est.)

$3.725 billion (2009 est.)

$3.821 billion (2008 est.)

$3.154 billion (2010 est.)

1.8% (2010 est.)

-2.5% (2009 est.)

-0.1% (2008 est.)

$4,300 (2010 est.)

$4,300 (2009 est.)

$4,400 (2008 est.)

335,000 (2007 est.)

7.6% (1999)

25.5% (FY90/91)

4.8% (2007)

3% (31 December 2009)

6.32% (31 December 2008)

7.85% (31 December 2009 est.)

7.97% (31 December 2008 est.)

$748 million (31 December 2008)

$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2009)

$1.76 billion (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.799 billion (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2009)

$568.2 million (31 December 2008)

$522.2 million (31 December 2007)

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

NA%

928 million kWh (2007 est.)

863 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

11,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)

20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$507 million (2007 est.)

$1.202 billion (2006)

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

US 15.21%, Australia 12.11%, UK 11.23%, Samoa 5.39%, Tonga 4.74%, Japan 4.44% (2009)

$3.12 billion (2006)

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Singapore 27.27%, Australia 19.36%, NZ 15.15%, China 6.92%, India 5.23%, Thailand 4.25% (2009)

$127 million (2004 est.)

$NA

$NA

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)