The first office of the Fiji Trade and Investment Buruea in the Northern Division was opened this morning in Labasa and there are high hopes that this could help revamp the northern economy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, FTIB CEO Annie Rogers says the Northern office staff will work in close partnership with the private sector and the wider business community, international organisations and the local community to make more business ventures possible in Vanua Levu.

Rogers says the immediate task of the staff will be to follow up on a number of registered investment projects that are in various stages of moving towards implementation in the earliest possible time.

She says the major advantage with the establishment of the new office is that investors in the north will not have to travel all the way to Suva.

With government already putting in place many tax incentives and designated the whole of Vanua Levu as a tax free zone, the FTIB CEO also says that their northern regional office will assist investors and businesses with the process by advising on what is available to help boost investment in the northern division.

The New Office was officially opened by Trade and Commerce Minister Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.