Manufacturers want inputs zero-rated
The Fiji Manufacturers Association hopes that in the 2009 Budget all Producer inputs on Tariffs (raw materials, machines, spare parts) are zero-rated ... more

Health to increase manpower
Expect more doctors and nurses in health centres from next year as a result of the increase in the Ministry of Health’s budget. ... more

No tax if you earn less than $15,000
People earning less than $15,000 a year will continue to be exempted from income tax until 2010. ... more

Charter architect Samy has hand in Budget
John Samy, the man behind Fiji's proposed People's Charter, is believed to be one of the main architects of the 2009 national Budget ... more

Budget should be interesting: Chaudhry
Fiji Labour party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says the 2009 budget announcement should be quite interesting ... more

Budget should prioritise exports: Academic
The 2009 Budget, due to be delivered this morning, should concentrate on increasing Fiji’s exports, says USP academic ... more

Budget ‘will show govt’s will on challenges’
The 2009 Budget is supposed to demonstrate the Government’s plans and will to deal with several challenging issues that is holding the economy from growing ... more

2009 Budget ‘expected to be bigger’
The nation will come to a halt today as the Interim Government announces the 2009 Budget ... more

Fiji’s 2009 Budget set at $1.75 billion
The interim Government has announced that its total estimated budget for 2009 is $1.75 billion ... more

2009 Budget to be pro-poor, pro-growth
Fiji’s 2009 Budget handed down today will be pro-poor and focus on raising economic growth, said interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama ... more

State urges partnership with banks
The interim Government has called on commercial banks in Fiji to partner with Government in implementing pro-growth and pro-poor initiatives come 2009 ... more

Fiji govt works on mahogany ownership
Fiji’s Interim Government is in the process of finalising the transfer of the ownership of Mahogany plantations to indigenous Fijian landowners through the Fiji Mahogany Trust ... more

Fiji interim Govt allows dual residency
Former Fiji citizens will now be entitled to obtain permanent residency status come 2009 ... more

Tax incentives to boost Agriculture
Ten-year tax holidays will be granted to new projects by companies undertaking commercial agriculture farming and agro processing ... more

Vanua Levu, islands become TFZs
Economically depressed northern and maritime island regions have been declared tax free zones to encourage investment. ... more

Interim PM announces tourism incentives
The interim Government has announced that a new incentive package for the tourism industry, to replace the existing short-life investment package ... more

Major tax rebate for film makers
The Fiji interim Government has announced a 35 per cent tax rebate for filmmakers intending to use Fiji as a location for films and TV serials ... more

Interim govt pushes rural development
The Fiji interim Government has kept its promise to look at rural development in the 2009 Budget ... more

Tax on mobile phone text promotions
Mobile text promotions will soon be subject to tax following the amendment of the Gaming Act ... more

Budget tax policies target foreigners
Under the interim Government’s 2009 Budget tax policies Fiji will be open to foreigners to stay here as long as possible on a multiple entry social pass ... more

Duty on chicken, mobile phones up
Fiscal duty on chicken, chicken products and mobile phones will be increased from 15 to 32 per cent from next year ... more

Punja: Budget is investor friendly
Fiji business tycoon Hari Punja has labelled the interim Government’s 2009 Budget investor friendly, saying it is a move in the right direction. ... more

2009 Budget will fail: Qarase
Ousted Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has predicted that the 2009 Budget announced today will fail. ... more

Govt loses $180m through concessions
The State loses $170 million to $180 million annually as an impact of tax concessions. ... more

Too many incentives in Budget: Chaudhry
Fiji’s former interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says large bundle of concessions in the 2009 Budget will give rise to widening deficits. ... more

Army, police budget allocations increase
The Fiji Military Forces have been allocated $96.8 million for next year’s budget. ... more

Capital market regulator hails budget
Unit trust investors can breathe a sigh of relief with the reinstatement of the tax exemptions on dividends for unit trust investments. ... more

Incentives set for bio-fuel production
Ten year tax holidays will be granted to companies that will be involved in processing agricultural commodities such as sugar, coconut and cassava into bio-fuel. ... more

Relief fund to help educate poor children
A Poverty Relief Fund for Education (PRFE) will be established to help children of the poorest of the poor to gain access to education, at primary, secondary as well as tertiary levels. ... more

Retailers praise Budget
Fiji’s retailers have lauded the 2009 Budget as pro-poor with a lot of incentives and facilitation for investors. ... more

Ro Teimumu happy with incentives
The Head of the Burebasaga Confederacy, Ro Teimumu Kepa, has welcomed incentives by the interim Government saying ... more

$1.5 million expected from water tax
The Fiji Government expects to raise up to $1.5million by taxing mineral water for sale by bottled water companies. ... more

2009 Budget a 'genuine attempt': E & Y
Chartered accounting firm Ernst & Young says the interim Government’s 2009 Budget is a genuine attempt to grow Fiji’s economy. ... more

Poverty fund brings relief to Education
The Education Ministry’s budget will drop by $26 million next year, however at the same time it has been boosted with a new fund to provide ... more

FTIB CEO lauds ‘friendly’ Budget
Fiji Trade and Investment Board chief executive officer Annie Rogers says the 2009 Budget is exporter and investment friendly. ... more

A positive budget, says FNPF chair
The chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund Felix Anthony says the 2009 Budget’s focus on developing the agriculture and fisheries ministries is a positive move. ... more

It’s a wow budget: Patel
“It's mind blowing”, was how prominent Fiji businessman Mahenda Patel described his first impression of the interim Government’s 2009 Budget. ... more

Budget a breath of fresh air: PSC chair
The Public Service Commission has called the Government’s budget for 2009, “a breath of fresh air”. ... more

Fix wages system, Fr Barr pleads
Wages Council chairman Father Kevin Barr says workers will remain poor unless the wages system in Fiji is fixed ... more

Civil service job cuts ‘the way to go’
A Suva-based economist believes it makes sense for the Government to cut its workforce if it intends to continue outsourcing its services ... more

Policies lead to ‘dog food’ consumption
The Fiji interim Government has been warned that its fiscal policies are allowing citizens to eat what has been termed as dog food ... more

Tax holidays galore in 2009 Budget
It's tax holidays galore as the Fiji Government goes all out to attract investment into the country in 2009 ... more

Increased departure tax will hit travellers
Fiji’s airline passengers will have to pay an extra $35 to the current $40 departure tax for every travel abroad from 2009 ... more

Qarase casts doubts on 2009 Budget
Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister Lasenia Qararse has called on the interim Government to live up to its promises indicated in the 2009 Budget ... more

‘Soft impact’ from departure tax rise
Tourism Fiji says the increase in departure tax from $40 to $75 will have a soft impact on the industry as opposed to directly taxing ... more

Party, NGO condemn rise in army budget
The National Federation Party has labelled the 2009 army budget as “scandalous” ... more

Interim Govt liberalises yacht industry
Yachts, other tourist ships and vessels coming to Fiji can stay in the country for up to 18 months come January 2009 ... more

Rewa Dairy to reinstate farm subsidies
Rewa Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd will reinstate its subsidies for dairy farmers, which it gradually removed early this year together with a freeze on acquiring inputs from overseas ... more

Govt should facilitate, not regulate: FEF
The Fiji Employers Federation (FEF) says the interim Government must facilitate capital expenditure for investment to ensure local economic growth ... more