An Investment Fiji board member says there's been a significant upturn in overseas investment inquiries over the last six months.
Robert Lowres says there's a strong influence from Asia and their interest varies from tourism projects to mineral resources.
He says while next year's elections are a catalyst, the hard work that has been done by the government to develop relationships, is paying dividends.
Mr Lowres has one of the largest developments in Fiji, the Naisoso Island project.
He told Bridget Tunnicliffe they've completed the first stage of the multimillion-dollar development.
ROBERT LOWRES: We bought the land or contracted the land in 2004, we settled it in 2006 and we've been merrily working our way through getting all of the master plan approvals for the project. And we are now at the stage where we have completed the first stage of Naisoso which was raising the island, putting in the infrastructure, spending $5 million on a bridge, putting in 2.5 kilometres of white sand and we're now into the marketing of our 178 Peppers apartment project and that's where we're currently at. You know we've got the five-star, the four-star hotel, the retail complex, marina villas, unashamedly we've set out to build the best project in the Pacific not just Fiji, and we think we're delivering on that promise.
BRIDGET TUNNICLIFFE: Is there a growth in interest from foreign investors in Fiji?
RL: Oh without doubt there's been a significant upturn in investment in Fiji particularly over the last six months. There's a strong influence from Asia, particularly China, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan to name a few and their interest varies from tourism to agriculture, to mineral resources and also doing some local manufacturing as well.
BT: Does this have a lot to do with the elections that are scheduled for next year?
RL: I think that's certainly a catalyst but I also think that the hard work that has been done by the current government to develop relationships particularly in Asia is what's now bearing fruit.
BT: As a businessman how have you found this government to work with, would you describe them as being business-friendly?
RL: Oh yes, most definitely they're what I call a can-do government. If you like, one of the issues that does exist is that there is an enthusiasm to engage growth and change it's just that the system if you like hasn't caught up with the desire. Fiji suffers from a lack of good middle management and well trained staff in most areas and that's something the government too is concentrating on.
