New Zealand calls off Fiji business seminar
The Fiji Times says that a seminar aimed at creating awareness on the requirements, challenges and procedures of exporting to New Zealand which was to begin yesterday has been cancelled.
Sources at the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau said the cancellation was one of the immediate effects of the expulsion of New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green.
FTIB chief executive officer Lailun Khan could not be reached for comment.
The event was jointly organised by the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission New Zealand and the bureau and was to be held at the JJ’s on the Park in Suva and a second event in Lautoka tomorrow.
The Fiji Visitors Bureau hopes New Zealand will not be too harsh in its retaliation, with FVB CEO Bill Gavoka saying it was a pending game at this stage and tourism stakeholders were “hopeful that some resolution can be made soon so as not to endanger this big tourism market for Fiji”.
Mr Gavoka said they were in talks with one of the major tourism chains in New Zealand which had decided to remove all Fiji banners and posters from its retail stores, adding, “They have pulled out their promotions and Fiji brochures from the shelves”.
“We are in dialogue with them and if we can resolve our differences we believe they can go back and give Fiji their full support,” Mr Gavoka said.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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