A Leading Light in Pacific Mining

A Pacific Crossroads

A Young Geological Environment

Base and Precious Metal Mineralisation

Mining, Past
and Present

Exploration Activity

Minerals Administration

Fiscal Aspects

Corporate Information

Mineral Resources Department, Fiji - Home

Companies wishing to carry out exploration and mining projects in Fiji need to contact the Fiji Trade and Investment Board (FTIB) in order to obtain in-principle agreement for any tax and customs concessions that may be applicable. The most appropriate corporate structure should also be considered: whether to operate as a Fiji-registered company or as a branch of an overseas parent company.

	The Islands also host two species of iguana, believed to represent relics from the Gondwana breakup

The FTIB, established to facilitate investment aimed at fulfilling national development objectives and assistance in all aspects of industrial development and investment. It also appraises all investment proposals and requests for concessions or assistance before submitting them to the government for consideration, together wit its recommendation. The system has been set up to provide a rapid turn-around for this process, which typically is completed within six-toeight weeks from application.

Information specific to tax and customs matters can be obtainbtained from the Inland Revenue Department and the Customs Department respectively, and professional advice on both fiscal and legal aspects of mineral sector investment can be obtained from local accountancy and law firms, some of whom also publish investment guides.

The mining industry's own organisation, the Mining and Quarrying Council, can provide advice and information on the current situation in exploration and mining from the companies' viewpoint, while the resources of the Geological Society of FFiji provide an additional source of geological information.

	Complementing its volcanic centre, Fiji offers offshore coral reefs for discovery

Fiji hosts the offices of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), a 15-member inter-governmental organisation that includes minerals projects amongst other geoscience-based commitments. The organisation also functions on behalf of member countries that do not have their own Geological Survey. SOPAC's recent Fijian projects have included baseline enviromental studies in the Mt Kasi district, the detrital gold study with the MRD, and research into deep-water hydrothermal emissions that could form the basis for offshore volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.

Contact information for these various organisations are listed in Home and Essential Contacts.

© Mining Journal 1998

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