The Fiji TimesFiji has excessive debt vulnerabilities, replace reveals

Fiji has excessive debt vulnerabilities and its excessive dependence on tourism is a danger, says the World Financial institution in its newest East Asia and Pacific Financial Replace.

The World Financial institution stated the evaluation was completed in April as a part of its debt sustainability evaluation the place it discovered Fiji had excessive debt vulnerabilities with public debt being sustainable with fiscal consolidation.

“Previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji had a poverty charge of 24.1 per cent in 2019/2020 as outlined by the nationwide requirements of dwelling,” the World Financial institution stated.

“Actual GDP contracted by 17.2 per cent in 2020 and 4.1 per cent in 2021, disrupting fiscal coverage and amplifying pre-pandemic fiscal vulnerabilities that led to a spike in public debt.”

The World Financial institution stated Fiji’s adoption of the WHO (World Well being Organisation) best-practice requirements and protocols, and its excessive COVID-19 vaccination charge resulted within the reopening of worldwide borders in December 2021, which stimulated financial restoration.

“Excessive dependence on tourism is a danger to sustained restoration and highlights the necessity for diversified sources of development. Gas, meals, and fertiliser costs, comprising round 40 per cent of imports, have elevated because of the Ukraine conflict.”

Excessive inflation affected home enterprise and consumption, slowed financial restoration, lowered actual revenue, and arrested poverty discount Questions despatched to the previous attorney-general and financial system minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum since October haven’t been answered.