There is no issue regarding potential government investment, as it continues to promote cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, for medical purposes as a commodity.

Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, said there were several investors he had secured, but at the moment, there were medicinal cannabis opportunities to pursue.

“There’s interest from Australia and Canada as well for medicinal cannabis, so no issue around potential investment,” he said.

“A New Zealand company is one of the initial companies that came on board.”

He was asked about the New Zealand firm Aether Pacific Pharmaceuticals (APP), which is reported to have gone into liquidation, owing several million dollars this year.

The Government even signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NZ company.

“We had the MOU to try and work together to make sure we formulated the right regulatory settings, but since then they’ve gone into the receivership,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of significant interest and we’ll continue to pursue.

“We are only waiting on the development of legislation now.”

AAP in early 2024 had signed a three-year MOU with the Fijian Government to develop medicinal cannabis initiatives in the country.

The move followed an extensive period of consultation and presents the company with the opportunity to expand its manufacturing operations.

It is reported that AAP was placed into liquidation owing to creditors claiming more than NZ$8.7 million (FJ$11,372,940) in February this year.

The Newsroom reported that cannabis of questionable quality grown by a Christchurch company is being sold in Australia at record low prices.

The Press reported that the head of embattled medicinal cannabis company Medical Kiwi Ltd has resurfaced in the UK with new companies and is intending to “carry on the plans that we have in place”.

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj