Republic of the Fiji Islands, better known as Fiji, encompasses over 300 separate islands and a greater number of islets, hosting an overall population of approximately 875,000 persons. Located in the western region of the Pacific, its nearest neighbours are Tonga to the east, Samoa to the north east, New Zealand to the southwest.

The main industry is sugar production, with tourism the highest foreign income earner. A strong clothing industry developed until the 1990s, largely owned and managed by the Indo-Fijian community, but it has subsequently suffered due to the outmigration of Indo-Fijians. The Global Financial Crisis has added further woe to the Fijian economy.