A Fiji-born Canadian businessman claims Fiji’s investment landscape is facing growing scrutiny, with investors expressing concerns about the stability of government policies and the overall investment climate.

At a press conference this morning, businessman Jeff Lal said there was a need for transparency and clear communication from the government.

He said this was particularly in regard to investment incentives and assurances of policy stability in sectors like real estate.

A key issue raised was the land lease policy, which offered 99-year leases on native and crown land for residential development.

While native land was considered more affordable, investors were questioning whether the government would provide incentives, such as breaks on development charges or land allocation for new projects.

“Doing the site servicing of the land, making the lots, different, different lots. Is there any breaks on those? Is there incentives from the government on those kind of stuff – that’s what we need to find out, what the government here is providing.”

Lal also voiced concerns about the potential risks of long-term investments, citing fears of land disputes and sudden policy changes that could disrupt development mid-project.

He also highlighted the broader issue of political instability in Fiji, noting that the country’s unpredictable political environment was a significant concern for investors.

Lal compared the instability to the more predictable political climate in countries like Canada and called for assurances that investments, particularly in land ownership and long-term projects, would be protected from political upheaval.

President of the Fiji-Canada Business Association Sam Basra echoed Lal’s concerns.

He called for greater clarity on the role of Investment Fiji, the government agency tasked with attracting foreign investment.

“What is also important is that when new investors come, there should be some link between the government and the bankers here so the bankers should also come in, government should also come in and say look you come here, we will give you this support and we will try to co-sign or refer you to these banks so that everybody is involved.”

Basra said that while discussions with Canadian officials have been positive, there has been little follow-up since a May meeting, leaving many wondering if progress has been made in attracting Canadian investors.

Another issue raised by Basra was the lack of transparency surrounding land ownership. Investors face challenges in identifying reliable partners for land leases and development projects.

Basra suggested that improved data management and better communication between the government, Investment Fiji and landowners was essential for creating a more attractive investment environment.

In light of their concerns, investors are calling for a more transparent and proactive approach from the government.

They said that building trust and providing clear, actionable policies is key to developing a stable and predictable business environment that will encourage long-term investments in Fiji.

Meanwhile, questions on the concerns raised has been sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica.