New Delhi, Jul 29 (KNN)  In order to increase trade between India and Fiji, a bilateral business council will soon be set up to benefit small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of both the countries, where they can discuss issues and explore avenues like exhibitions and buyer-seller meets. 

“We are planning to come up with a platform called Fiji-India Business Council, where entrepreneurs of both countries can sit together and identify trade and business opportunities.  This council will organise seminars, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets etc,” said the First Secretary of the Government of the Republic of Fiji, Alivereti Naioko today.

Visiting the secretariat of the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME), Naioko invited Indian manufacturers to invest and set up plants in Fiji, which gives them access to Australian and New Zealand markets. 

Fisheries and mining are the major industries in Fiji and to develop it further it has sought technologies from India.
   
In order to exchange ideas and learn new ways, Fiji is ready to receive trade delegations from India and vice-versa.  

Moreover, Fiji is rich in timber, fisheries, offshore oil etc., which can be exported to India. In return, it can import garments, handicrafts and agro-commodities from India. 

The country consists of many small islands and coconut trees are in abundance. Therefore it wants to make good use of the crop through Indian technologies to make useful products. 

India can also export advanced tools and machinery to Fiji, said Joint Secretary-International Trade (FISME), Mukesh Kalra. 

Meanwhile, Fiji has a significant amount of soft coral reefs, and scuba diving is a common tourist activity.  It can be a good tourist destination for Indians, said Naioko. (KNN/GUNJ)