Export sector strengthening: Ricketts

The significance of strengthening the country exports is clearly reflected through the interim Governments creation of new policies to boost the export industry, says interim Minister for Trade and industry, Tom Ricketts.

Interim Government policies such as the National Export Strategy and its continuing emphasis on the private sector development road map and the Fiji Export council are some of the creations.

Mr Ricketts, speaking at the launching of the Fiji Island Trade and Investment Bureau organised 2008 DHL Exporters of the Year Award, said the theme of "Exports Enhancement: The path to economic growth", couldnt have arrived at a better timing when present challengers faced our exporters.

Meanwhile, the interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry had earlier stated that the exports sector has seen steady growth and the economy is benefiting from its re-exports of mineral fuels given the dramatic increase in the global fuel price.

"Exports for the first 5 months of 2008 totalled $507 million- up 24.2 per cent over the same period in 2007, a much improved performance compared to 2005 and 2006," he said.

Source-fijitimes.com