2 Feb 2005

Fiji government announces new incentives for sugar industry on Vanua Levu

10:36 am on 2 February 2005

The Fiji cabinet has announced a range of incentives to help lift the economy of the second island, Vanua Levu, out of its current depression.

The minister for commerce and business development, Tomasi Vuetilovoni, says the depression in Vanua Levu is the direct result of the decline in sugar production.

He has attributed this to large areas of land previously used for came farming now lying idle.

The new incentives for development include 300% tax deductions on capital expenditure for new businesses, a 200% tax deduction for all new employees hired, and export incomes to be free of taxes.

They also include duty free import of plant, machinery and raw materials used for manufacturing.

There are cash limits on the total amount of tax rebates with the incentives to run till 2008.

Mr Vuetilovoni says the government will undertake infrastructure development to attract new ventures