However, our average growth rate since 1996 is only 2.4 percent. This next slide compares Fiji’s growth rates with some selected countries. As you can see, Fiji’s growth trend has generally been stable, although it fell below the growth rates of Mauritius, Samoa and Trinidad & Tobago in 2001. Let me show you another indicator of development - The UN’s Human Development Index.
The higher you are on this ladder the better. You will note that Fiji was ranked at the 81st position of all the countries on the world in 2002. This is about half way against all countries in the world. We are doing better than the average of all the developing countries and some neighbours like PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.