Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (SVT -
primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National
Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian
Nationalist Party (FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP),
Mahendra CHAUDHRY; General Voters Party (GVP), Leo SMITH; Fiji
Conservative Party (FCP), leader NA; Conservative Party of Fiji
(CPF), leader NA; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, leader NA; Fiji Indian
Congress Party, leader NA; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader
NA; Four Corners Party, leader NA; Fijian Association Party (FAP),
Josevata KAMIKAMICA; General Electors' Association, leader NA
note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
Congress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the
remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
Electors' Association
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Don Lee GEVIRTZ
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 314466
FAX: [679] 300081
Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Fiji, richly endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange. Industry contributes 17% to GDP; sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. In 1992, growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone Kina. Growth in 1994 of 5% was largely attributable to increased tourism and expansion in the manufacturing sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $6,100 (1995 est.)