Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, says his government will award half of all state contracts to companies in which indigenous Fijians have a major shareholding
Mr Qarase says this will also apply to government permits, licenses and quotas.
The announcement came at a meeting of the Indigenous Fijian Business Council.
Mr Qarase says the biggest hurdles facing indigenous Fijians seeking involvement in commerce were the unavailability of capital and lack of business skills.
