Most business people are Indo-Fijians, although there is a growing presence of Indigenous Fijians in business.
Business dress is informal with normal attire for men comprising of trousers with an open-neck, short-sleeve shirt; suits and jackets are seldom required. Most business people prefer to be called by their first name, however, certain indigenous Fijians have the title 'Ratu' (for men) or 'Adi' (for women), meaning that they are of chiefly status.
Fiji Indians can be quite direct and want to know the ‘deal’ fairly quickly. They are traders by instinct and often base their evaluation on price. Part of the culture is Fiji time. Timeliness is not strictly observed, however, in recent years, this has become less apparent. Meetings and appointments may not start on time - delays of 10-15 minutes are quite normal.
Office hours:Mon-Fri 0830-1630/1700 (some offices close one hour earlier on Fridays).
Economy:The Fijian economy has a sizeable subsistence agricultural economy as well as producing cash crops, of which sugar is the most important. Despite reform attempts, the state-owned sugar monopoly remains close to collapse through years of inefficiency and the state of the world sugar market. Indo-Fijian farmers are being forced off the land as leases held by indigenous Fijians expire.
Fish and timber, especially mahogany (of which Fiji is the world's second-largest producer) are also vital export earners. Low-grade copper deposits exist on Viti Levu but have been judged uneconomic by transnational mining companies.
Tourism is the main service industry, but has been affected by various political upheavals.
Annual GDP growth was estimated at -4.4% in 2007 due to repercussions from the military coup. When Australia and New Zealand imposed ecomonic sanctions, Fiji established closer economic relations with Asian countries, including China, Korea (Republic of) and Taiwan.
GDP:US$3.4 billion (2009).
Main exports:Sugar, garments, mineral water, timber and fish.
Main imports:Manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum and food.
Main trading partners:Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, USA and UK.
International calls can only really be made from Viti Levu. Calls from hotels via an operator are very expensive. It is cheaper to get a public phonecard, available from post offices and newsagents or from the Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office.
Mobile phone:Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. There is no coverage on outlying islands, only on Viti Levu.
Internet:Internet cafés are available in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka and most resorts. They are relatively inexpensive, however, Internet connectivity in Fiji isn’t the best.
Post:Airmail to Europe and North America takes up to 10 days. The main post office is on Victoria Parade, Suva.
Post office hours:Mon-Fri 0800-1600; Sat 0900-1200.
Media:Fiji's private press includes English-language dailies and Fijian- and Hindi-language weeklies. It has maintained its reputation for independent reporting despite interim military rule. The government has a stake in several publications. Radio is a prime source of information, particularly for the outer islands.
Press:• The main English-language dailies are the Fiji Times, the Daily Post, and the Fiji Sun.
• Sartaj and Shanti Dut are weekly publications in Hindi.
• The Review is a fortnightly news and business magazine.
• FijiTV is a national free-to-air channel.
• Sky Fiji is a pay-TV channel; both are operated by Fiji Television Ltd.
• The state-owned commercial Fiji Broadcasting Corporation operates Fijian-language Radio Fiji One, Hindi-language Radio Fiji Two, music-based Radio Fiji Gold, Hindi entertainment station Radio Mirchi and music-based Bula FM.
• Privately-owned Communications Fiji Ltd operates four stations heard around the country: FM 96 and Legend in English, Viti FM in Fijian, and Radio Navtarang in Hindi.
• The BBC World Service and Radio Australia are available on FM relays.
