The growth of Fiji's poultry industry will not only see self-sufficiency but also venture into the large untapped market within the Pacific region says Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Speaking at the opening of a chicken breeding facility in Navua this morning, Mr Bainimarama says the Pacific market can become a reality revenue source for Fiji's poultry industry, reports Radio Fiji.

He is encouraging further collaboration to maximise the benefits.

He said: "With government's focus on working with the private sector for the benefit of all Fijians, I encourage such further collaboration – collaboration in which we recognise the realities of the economy and become innovative in our thinking, in our business practices and policies to provide maximum benefit to all the stakeholders including the consumers."

The breeding facility is owned by Crest Chicken and General Manager, Shaun Joils, says they are targeting poultry export to the country's Pacific neighbours.

He said: "Our objective is – by February and March next year – we expect to meet Fiji's chicken demand – and then we will be aggressively looking for export to other Pacific countries."

The new breeding farm will see over one million New Zealand imported eggs substituted for local production, according to Radio Fiji. The chicks from these eggs will be contracted out to small farmer holdings.