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Fiji’s exporters face incredibly tough times and have been able to achieve success in the face of very difficult circumstances and in a highly unpredictable environment, says acting Fiji Trade and Investment Board chairman Viliame Naupoto.
In preliminary remarks at the annual Exporter of the Year Awards, Naupoto said that with the global financial crisis affecting leading financial markets such as the United States and the Euro Zone, and the trickle down affecting Fiji’s other major trading partners, additional hardships had been created for local exporters.
He said they needed the support of government and other stakeholders to succeed on the international scene.
“The fact that a company is exporting at all in these tough times shows sheer guts, passion and perseverance – the makings of a winner,” said Naupoto.
He said monetary policies such as the 20 percent devaluation of the Fiji dollar in April were some examples of how exporters could be helped.
Held annual for the past 16 years, the Exporter of the Year Awards recognised Fiji companies “for their excellence in the international exporting arena”.
