National Task Team 2: Growing the Economy
First meeting held on 23rd January 2008
Communiqué

The National Task Team (NTT) on “Growing the Economy” appointed from its membership by the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) held its first meeting on Wednesday, 23rd January 2008 at the Committee room of the Parliament complex. 

The NTT is one of three Task Teams set up by the NCBBF.  The other two Task Teams, covering Good Governance and Social-Cultural Identity and Nation-Building, will have their first meetings on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of January respectively.

The National Task Team 2 unanimously elected Interim Minister of Finance, National Planning, Sugar and Public Utilities,

Mr. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry and the Chairman of Kadavu Provincial Council Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo as Co-Chairs.  All members of the NTT attended the meeting as well as several members from the other two NTTs.

NTT2 discussed the Draft Consultation Document on the State of Nation and Economy (SNE) Report, the terms of reference of three Working Groups to be established under the NTT to assist them in their deliberations, and endorsed Working Group membership.

The Draft Consultation Document provides information to facilitate more detailed investigation and discussion by the three NTTs including the various Working Groups set up for the preparation of the Draft SNE Report. This will be the basis for the formulation of the draft proposed People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCPP).

In considering the draft Consultation Document, the Task Team endorsed the analysis made on the status of the economy and the preliminary analysis of the cause of the problems which Fiji faces.

In their discussion, members noted the poor performance of the Fiji economy since Independence compared to other economies in the Asia Pacific region. This is clearly indicated by the high and growing incidence of poverty in Fiji in contrast to declining poverty levels in faster growing Asia Pacific economies.

NTT2 members agreed that the major challenges to be addressed for Fiji to move forward include weak leadership, political instability, poor governance, lack of access and underutilisation of natural resources, low productivity and low wages, declining competitiveness in the global market, shortages of skills largely as a result of high migration, and the ill-defined role of government.

NTT2 members noted that most of these challenges were not new and have been discussed in many government and non-government forums.  However, little or no progress has been made in overcoming these challenges due to poor implementation, lack of genuine commitment, self serving political agendas, and poor monitoring and follow up.

Members agreed to establish three Working Groups to assist in its tasks in addressing a number of critical issues.  Each Working Group will address priority topics in the area of Growing the Economy. These topics are (1) Clarifying the Respective Roles of Government, Private Sector and Civil Society, to Achieve Stronger Growth, Greater Equity and Sustainability; (2) Development of the Financial Services Sector; and (3) Development of Resources-based Sectors.

The Working Groups will comprise at least fifteen members, consisting of three NTT2 members, plus twelve co-opted from government and non-government organisations. At least eight of the twelve co-opted members will be from non-government organisations. 

NTT2 acknowledges with appreciation the decisions recently made by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand not to apply the travel ban to those involved in the work on the draft proposed PCCPP, i.e. those serving in the National Council, the NTTs and in the Working Groups.  NTT2 members urged those to be invited to serve in the Working Groups to respond positively and to participate actively in the PCCPP process.

The Working Groups, by mid March, will develop detailed recommendations on each priority topic for consideration by the NTT after thorough consultation through an outreach programme to all stakeholders around the country.

Mahendra Pal Chaudhry                                               Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo
            (Co – Chair)                                                                 (Co – Chair)