Investment Fiji is the Investment and Trade Promotion Agency of the Fijian Government. We match high-impact capital investment with Fijian businesses and opportunities through promotion and investor facilitation.
Opportunities
- Fiji offers high-quality business resources and infrastructure for the ICT sector.
- The Southern Cross cable, which has a landing point in Suva, provides fast, direct, and secure high-capacity services between Australasia and the West Coast of the United States.
- Good English-speaking labour force as Fiji’s literacy rate is around 99%.
- Business-friendly consumer policies and legislation.
- There are opportunities in mobile applications and value-adding service providers.
- Some well-known international back-office processing companies are already operating in Fiji.
- Fiji offers an investment-friendly environment for the ICT sector with focused support from the government.
- Fiji businesses have experience in dealing with ICT products and are receptive to new and innovative products.
- Fiji is very strategically located in the Pacific and has a number of HQs for regional and international organizations.
- Young workforce with very competitive labour rates.
- Duty-free importation of computers, computer parts and accessories, plant, equipment, and fittings, and specialized furniture to approved ICT/BPO business operators for initial establishment and ongoing operations.
- Fiji has a highly competitive telecommunications sector and enjoys one of the highest rates of ICT penetration in the region. 95% of our population has access to mobile broadband through the use of 3G and 4G technologies, and this figure is increasing. The deregulated telecommunications sector ensures value for money and access to world-class ICT services for Fijians and investors alike.
- Fiji won the European Outsourcing Association‘s Offshoring Destination of the Year Award in 2014.
Incentives
Customs Concessions: Approved ICT/BPO companies, ICT accredited training institutions, and start-ups involved in application design and software development are eligible for duty concessions under Customs Tariff Code 261 as follows:
- Computers,
- Computer parts & accessories
- Specialized plants
- Equipment & fittings
- Specialized furniture
- Any other goods imported for the purpose of ICT at duty rates of Free Fiscal, Free Import Excise, and 9% VAT
Investment in infrastructure for ICT purposes: Any new investment in the infrastructure for businesses engaged in the ICT sector will be granted a tax holiday and a duty concession package provided that 90% of the income for the investor is derived from the ICT businesses.
Tax Exemption Structure
- Tax breaks of up to ten years are available for investments ranging from $2 million to $5 million.
- 15-year tax break for investments between $5 million and $10 million; and
- For investments worth more than $10 million, there is a 20-year tax break.
- If the investor is also involved in developing strata titles and selling them to ICT or BPO companies, the sale proceeds will also be exempt from income tax.
Customs Exemption
- There is a customs import duty exemption for the establishment of the business. Exemptions will include raw materials, machinery, and equipment, including spare parts.
- The additional tax holiday period will also be extended to existing ICT and BPO companies.
Minister’s Testimonial
“One of our greatest strengths as a modern economy is the development of call centres and outsourcing because it uses our greatest resource—our people. To put this into perspective, close to 5,000 Fijians, representative of a young workforce, are currently employed in the information and communication technology (ICT) and BPO sectors, which contribute approximately 10% towards Fiji’s GDP. We are placed in a very strong position with excellent 4T and telecommunications infrastructure and competitive wage and salary rates. We also have an educated and accent-neutral English-speaking work force, a cost-effective near-shore location, and a convenient time zone area. Apart from having a rich pool of talent, the Fijian government has worked strategically to position Fiji as a lucrative location for BPO operations, offering attractive investment incentives.“
Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya – Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport