Investment Fiji has appointed Filimone Waqabaca as its new Board Chair, signalling a renewed push to strengthen investor confidence and sharpen the country’s investment promotion strategy at a critical stage in its economic recovery.
Waqabaca brings extensive experience across finance, public policy, and international diplomacy. In his current role as Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Development Bank, he has been closely involved in financing growth sectors and supporting private sector development. His earlier roles include serving as Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan and Permanent Secretary for Finance, positioning him as a key figure with both domestic and international credibility.
The appointment comes as Fiji seeks to sustain investment momentum while navigating a more complex global environment. With growth moderating and competition for capital intensifying, the role of Investment Fiji is becoming increasingly central to the country’s economic strategy.
Recent efforts by the agency have focused on expanding outreach to priority markets, particularly Australia, and engaging diaspora investors alongside institutional partners. Key sectors being promoted include tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure, agribusiness, and digital services. The emphasis is on attracting long-term, high-quality investment that contributes to job creation, capability building, and economic resilience.
At the same time, global assessments have pointed to the need for continued reforms to improve the business environment. Issues such as regulatory consistency, access to finance, and labour availability remain important considerations for investors. Strengthening governance and institutional capacity is therefore seen as essential to unlocking higher levels of investment.
Waqabaca’s appointment is expected to reinforce these efforts. Strong board leadership can play a decisive role in aligning investment promotion with national priorities, improving coordination across agencies, and ensuring that investor engagement translates into tangible outcomes.
For Fiji, the timing is significant. As the country positions itself for the next phase of growth, the strengthening of Investment Fiji’s leadership sends a clear signal of intent to the market.
The challenge now will be execution: converting opportunity into sustained investment flows and long-term economic gains.
