Pic: The Fiji Agri-Export Accelerator cohort at work (courtesy PTI Australia)
Fijian agribusinesses are getting help to meet Australian import requirements, price their products and connect with buyers through a five-month export accelerator that began in September. The programme is aimed at businesses already selling products and adding value in Fiji, with the capacity to increase production for Australian customers.
The Fiji-Australia Business Council and Market Development Facility designed the Fiji Agri-Business Export Accelerator. The Forge Pacific is delivering it, with support from Investment Fiji and Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia, an Australia Fiji Business Council member.
PTI Australia’s Pacific Islands Export Survey 2026 agriculture spotlight shows the scale of interest. Among Pacific agricultural businesses surveyed, 38 per cent were already exporting to Australia and 64 per cent planned to target the market within three years. Access to finance was a difficulty for 84 per cent of respondents, while 75 per cent cited supply chains and logistics as a major challenge.
From product development to freight
PTI Australia export specialists Jeremy Grennell and Maeva O’Donnell held individual sessions with participants on Australian consumer preferences, product development and branding. Workshops covered certification, labelling and quality management, helping businesses identify what they need to address before shipping. The programme also offers support with packaging and introductions to buyers and distributors.
A financial training phase scheduled for November covers costing, pricing, margins and international payments. Later sessions will deal with freight, storage, customs requirements and staffing. The aim is to help participants assess whether an export order will remain profitable once they account for the cost of getting the product from Fiji to an Australian buyer.
For Australian importers and distributors, the programme could bring more Fijian suppliers into a position to discuss prices, volumes and delivery schedules. For the producers, those conversations can help determine how much to invest in packaging, certification or additional capacity before committing to larger orders. The commercial test will come when a buyer places a repeat order. Suppliers will need to maintain product quality, cover freight and storage costs, and deliver on schedule as volumes grow. That is what turns an initial shipment into a viable export business.
