Fiji

A British colony, Fiji gained its independence in 1970; in 1987, it experienced two military coups because of fears that the Indians were influencing the government. The 1990 constitution gave the power to the native Melanesian people; both the rebellions and the constitution made sure that Melanesians became the majority, but they resulted to heavy Indian migrations and, because of the decline in population, economic problems. The 1999 elections created an Indo-Fijian government, while in 2000, a rebellion by the people led to another political conflict. Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE was elected democratically in 2001 and 2006, but was overthrown in December 2006, by the military coup of Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA; in 2007, he became interim prime minister.

Main Airports

Nadi (NAN), Suva (SUV)

U.S. Embassy

31 Loftus Street, Suva
tel: 679-331-4466

Statistics

GDP: purchasing power parity:

$5.38 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:

6,000 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

137,000 (1999)

Exports:

$862 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - partners:

US 19.1%, Australia 16.4%, UK 11.9%, Samoa 7.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005)

Imports:

$1.235 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - partners:

Singapore 27.4%, Australia 23.7%, NZ 18.8%, Thailand 4.5% (2005)

Population:

905,949 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.4% (2006 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line:

25.5% (1990-91)

Major Industries:

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

Employing Workers: 28*

Registering Property: 71*

Enforcing Contracts: 86*

Closing a Business: 106*

*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries

Starting a Business

The table below shows the number of steps and the amount of time needed to start a business, on average

Indicator	Fiji	Region
Procedures (number)	8	8.2
Time (days)	46	46.3

• Agriculture
• Apparel
• Arts & Crafts
• Automobile
• Bags, Cases & Boxes
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware & Software
• Construction & Real Estate
• Consumer Electronics
• Electrical & Electronics
• Energy & Environment
• Food & Beverage
• Furniture & Furnishing
• Health & Medicine
• Home Supplies
• Industrial Supplies
• Lights & Lighting
• Machinery
• Mineral & Materials
• Office Supplies
• Security & Protection
• Service
• Sports & Entertainment
• Telecommunications
• Textile
• Toys
• Transportation