Extended operating hours for businesses in Fiji have been welcomed by the business community.
Fiji Village says the interim Minister of Trade and Commerce, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has decreed that retail and commercial businesses can stay open until nine p.m. every day of the week, while some nightclubs can extend their hours until 5am.
Taverns will be able to trade until 1am.
In addition, there are to be two special trading zones, one in Suva and the other in Nadi, where retailers can stay open for 24 hours a day.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is quoted by the website as saying the new trading hours will bring huge benefits to the tourism sector and to Fiji's economy.
Himmat Lodhia of the Retailers Association says it is the greatest Christmas gift to the retailers and traders of Fiji, and will automatically create more employment.
He says it is an initiative that brings Fiji into line with first world countries.
