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Fiji. Ballpoint Pens, Rollerball Pens,Cartridges, Fountain Pens.
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Pen Ink City Lautoka
Pen Ink City Suva
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England Description Fiji
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Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.
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Location
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Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Geographic Coordinates
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18 00 S, 175 00 E
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Area - comparative
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slightly smaller than New Jersey
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Coast line
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0 km
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Climate
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1,129 km
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Terrain Fiji
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measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
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Natural Resources Fiji
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tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
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Irrigated land
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mostly mountains of volcanic origin
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
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Natural Hazards
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30 sq km (2003)
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Environment Currentissues
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28.6 cu km (1987)
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Geography Note
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cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
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Population Fiji
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deforestation; soil erosion
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Population growth rate
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includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
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Birth Rate
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957,780 (July 2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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1.367% (2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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21.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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5.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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2.63 children born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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600 (2003 est.)
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Religions
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fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
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Languages
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Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)
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Education Expenditures
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Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)
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Government Type
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English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
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Administrative Divisions
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6.5% of GDP (2004)
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Independence
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republic
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National Holiday
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4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
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Constitution
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10 October 1970 (from the UK)
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Legal System
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Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
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Suffrage
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enacted on 25 July 1997; effective on 28 July 1998; note - it encourages multiculturalism and makes multiparty government mandatory
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Legislative Branch
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based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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21 years of age; universal
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
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International Organization Participation
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Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]
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Flag Description
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Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners Association
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Economy Overview
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ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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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
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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Fiji, 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, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector, and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006.
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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$3.704 billion (2009 est.)
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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$3.084 billion (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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-2.5% (2009 est.)
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Unemployment Rate
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$3,900 (2009 est.)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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335,000 (2007 est.)
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Distribution Of Family Income
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7.6% (1999)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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25.5% (FY90/91)
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Inflation Rrate
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4.8% (2007)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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6.32% (31 December 2008)
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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7.97% (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Money
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$NA (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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$NA (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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$NA (31 December 2008)
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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$NA (31 December 2008)
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Agriculture - Products
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sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
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Industries
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tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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NA%
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Electricity Production
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928 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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863 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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10,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Exports
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2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Imports
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20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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-$507 million (2007 est.)
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Exports
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$1.202 billion (2006)
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Exports Commodities
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sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
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Exports Partners
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US 15.7%, UK 12%, Australia 10.6%, Samoa 5.4%, Tonga 4.8%, Japan 4.2%, NZ 4% (2008)
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Imports
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$3.12 billion (2006)
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Imports Commodities
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manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
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Imports Partners
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Singapore 29.9%, Australia 20.1%, NZ 15.2%, China 5.3%, India 4.5% (2008)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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$127 million (2004 est.)
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Debt - External
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$NA
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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129,100 (2008)
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Internet Country Code
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600,000 (2008)
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Airports
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.fj
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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Lautoka, Suva
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