The Nadi Chamber of Commerce & Industry has labelled the recent national budget as a good one that will enable the nation to move forward despite the several challenges faced by the country.

Fiji’s Finance Minister Biman Prasad unveiled the coalition government’s second Budget in June, saying “the focus must be on raising incomes and improving the peoples overall quality of life”.

Prasad announced the total government expenditure for the 2024-2025 Budget will be of FJ$4.552 billion with the projected revenue of $3.917b – a net deficit of about FJ$635.5, or 4.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

It aims to address government debt, cost of living, funding boosts for education, deteriorating infrastructure, and funding for a narcotics bureau.

While delivering the Budget, he declared the Budget focuses on “economic stability and patiently building foundations for the future”.

Education gets the biggest slice of the budget pie with FJ$778 million.

NCCI president Dr Ram Raju has labelled the new budget as a “citizen’s budget” and has urged all sectors to rally their support behind the coalition government.