Fiji Economy

Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies. Fiji has an agriculture-based market economy, including a substantial subsistence sector dominated by indigenous Fijians who earn a supplementary cash income from cultivating crops or from fishing. The commercial sector is heavily based on garment manufacturing and on sugar. Agriculture accounts for 18 % of Gross Domestic Product, although it employs some 70 % of the workforce. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar cane processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Additionally, urbanization and expansion in the service sector has also contributed to recent GDP growth.

The political turmoil in recent years has had a severe impact on the economy. The economy grew in 2003 and 2004 but slowed in 2005 and 2006. The coup in 2006 has since slowed down the economy, especially the tourism sector. The sector rebounded in 2008 but is still not to as strong as it used to be.

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