13 September 2022 – Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Board Chairman Mr Naushad Ali and The Chief Technical Officer of New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (NZ MPI) Mr Peter Thompson endorsed the Citrus Export Plan for the export of fresh Citrus fruits from Fiji to New Zealand. Present at the ceremony were BAF Board of Directors, The First Secretary of the New Zealand High Commission Mr Hone Patrick, Senior Economic Resilience Adviser at the New High Commission Mr Kartik Pratap, Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr Surend Pratap and senior members of BAF. The NZ MPI Specialist Advisor for Pacific Imports Mr Nacanieli Waqa and other members of the NZ MPI team joined virtually.

BAF Board Director Jay Whyte, in his opening remarks, said that the official endorsement of the Citrus Export Plan will pave the way for the export of Fiji-grown citrus into the New Zealand market. This means that New Zealanders will soon have an additional tropical fruit on their plate from Fiji.
Mr Whyte added that a new market for Fiji means growth in foreign exchange earnings for the country and additional income for exports and citrus growers. The Citrus Export Plan for Fiji’s endorsement is the first of many more export plans to be prepared and implemented for enabling fruits and vegetable exports into New Zealand. The Export Plan emphasises commercial production and quality system, and captures standard cultivations, pest management, harvests and packaging activities.
He further elaborated that BAF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, will work with Citrus growers and Exporters to facilitate the export of fresh citrus fruits in compliance with export plan requirements.
The First Secretary NZ High Commission Mr Hone Patrick said over the years, through the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and BAF, have strengthened the institution-to-institution relations under the Enhanced Pacific Market Access Partnership and the broader Duavata Partnership signed by both Governments earlier this year.