- FIJI PREPARES FOR 44-YEAR INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY – Fijians across the country are encouraged to celebrate Fiji Day this year with their friends and families.
- USA INVESTORS EYE FIJI’S POTENTIAL – Fiji has the best business and investment climate with stable macro-economic environment conducive for private sector development and industrial growth.
- NABOUWALU TOWN TO BOOST NORTHERN ECONOMY – With a population of 14, 176, the province of Bua is looking forward to see Nabouwalu be declared a town.
- FIJI – INDONESIA STRENGTHEN RELATIONS THROUGH SPORTS – Fiji and Indonesia continue to strengthen bilateral relations in youth and sports development since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments in June this year.
- NABORO LANDFILL COMMUNITY LEVY AGREEMENT SIGNING – Government today signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement that will see consistent payments made to landowners of the land where the Naboro landfill is located.
1 FIJI PREPARES FOR 44-YEAR INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Fijians across the country are encouraged to celebrate Fiji Day this year with their friends and families.
As the nation prepares to host its 44th independence anniversary, Government is encouraging every Fijian to reflect on the importance of this day. This includes Fijians living overseas.
With celebrations planned for major divisions across the country, the main celebrations in Suva will feature the March Past parade at Albert Park. His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will officiate as Chief Guest at this year’s Suva event where he will also inspect the parade by Fiji’s armed forces.
The main program in Suva’s will feature a Fiji Day Parade and the 21 gun salute which will be reviewed by the President. Celebrations in Syria Park, Labasa will be held on Thursday, 9th October, 2014 with a march through the town with formalities culminating at the park with the Chief Guest, Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Inia Seruiratu delivering the keynote address.
The Lautoka celebrations at Churchill Park will also be held on the 9th of October with the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Joeli Cawaki as chief guest.
The old capital, Levuka will also have celebrations at the Nasau Park with the Re-enactment of the Ceding of Fiji, the participation of schools, and the keynote address by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr. Laisenia Tuitubou.
The theme for this year’s Fiji Day celebrations is “Celebrating Fiji’s New Dawn”.
For more information, the public can call the Department of Information on 3301806.
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2 USA INVESTORS EYE FIJI’S POTENTIAL
Fiji has the best business and investment climate with stable macro-economic environment conducive for private sector development and industrial growth.
This was the message to potential investors from the United States of America by Fiji’s Ministry of Industry and Trade permanent secretary, Mr Shaheen Ali as he outlined the achievements by Government made possible through massive reforms.
“The Fijian Government, through these reforms, has created a sense of nationhood amongst all Fijians – a nation poised to realize its destiny as a modern and dynamic economy in the Pacific and be the hub of the Pacific,” he said.
Mr Ali said there has never been a better time to do business in Fiji as it now enjoys a thriving, democratic, peaceful and politically stable environment.
“Over the past eight years, Fiji has been determined to chart its own course, implementing a wide-ranging series of reforms – social, economic, political, and constitutional for the benefit and wellbeing of all Fijians.”
The Government, he said, was committed to its policy of developing new markets and forging new trade relationships and re-engagement with its traditional development partners like the US, to create new trade and investment opportunities.
Mr Ali said this is against a backdrop of unprecedented positive growth for the last five years, which was revised upward to 4.6 per cent in 2013, with a similar figure expected in 2014.
“The Bainimarama Government went to great lengths to create a stable and conducive business environment and also policies that encourages growth and development. Fiji offers the best corporate tax rate, streamlined income tax and tax free regions offering up to 20 years tax free benefits,” he said.
This is backed other conditions conducive to investment such as availability of land is available for investment with long-term lease and the removal of the minimum investment requirement of $250,000.
A potential investor, Mr Rocky Ali Buksh, who owns The US Fiji Times, said the business climate in Fiji is very attractive to former Fijians like him who have always wanted to give something back to the country of their birth.
The former Fijian left for US in 1977 and has operated the monthly publication for the last 15 years in California which is home to around 70,000 Fijians.
“I have spoken to a lot of investors who are now keen to invest here now that a stable Government is in place. Personally, I have a few properties in Suva that I would like to invest and develop into a business,” he said.
The two day seminar- 2014 USA Inbound Mission to Fiji is jointly organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Investment Fiji.
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3 NABOUWALU TOWN TO BOOST NORTHERN ECONOMY
With a population of 14, 176, the province of Bua is looking forward to see Nabouwalu be declared a town.
Government’s Provincial administrator in the North, Inoke Tagicakibau, said they are in the process of finalizing this which includes discussion with the i-Taukei Lands Trust Board.
“The plan for Nabouwalu to become a satellite town is in progress and the iTaukei Lands Trust Board is working closely with the Town and Country Planning unit here in the North.”
Mr Tagicakibau said with these plans, businesses and investors are expected to bring a major boost to the Bua economy.
“With this road also getting completed, we see a lot of investors, markets and better education and employment for the people of Bua.”
30 year old Seru Tupoucake said that the developments taking place in Bua, is a chance for the people to get employed, easy access for their goods to the market and to create a better environment for their children.
“It is about time that Nabouwalu should be declared a town, we are excited and look forward to this.”
Meanwhile, Nabouwalu currently has a post office, hospital, jetty, hardware shop, restraint, small grocery shops, market and a resource centre with the other government facilities.
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4 FIJI – INDONESIA STRENGTHEN RELATIONS THROUGH SPORTS
Fiji and Indonesia continue to strengthen bilateral relations in youth and sports development since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments in June this year.
The MOU which was signed during the State Visit to Fiji by former Indonesia President H.E Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will see the two countries begin implementing closer relations to enhance sporting development.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports director Mr William Naisara is in Indonesia leading a Fijian delegation for a Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) meeting with their Indonesian counterparts on the implementation of the MOU on Youth and Sports cooperation.
Mr Naisara said other matters discussed were the attachment of a Fijian Youth Training officer to study in detail the economic empowerment of youths in the area of entreprenuership.
“The Indonesian Government is keen to either provide scholarships for training in ‘badminton, in Jakarta or deploy a Coach to Fiji to assist grow the sport, one that Indonesia excels in,” he said.
The Fijian delegation is visiting Sports Academies and youth projects. This has seen the delegation holding talks with the relevant authorities in the areas relavent to their Ministry.
Mr Naisara also extended the invite for the convening of the next JTWG in Fiji in 2015 to review the implementation of the agreed projects and plan for further mutual assistance.
Director Naisara is accompanied by Principal Youth and Sports Officer Mrs Amele Navunicagi and Senior Youth Officr Mr Valami Nima.
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5 NABORO LANDFILL COMMUNITY LEVY AGREEMENT SIGNING
Government today signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement that will see consistent payments made to landowners of the land where the Naboro landfill is located.
The Agreement was signed by the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment permanent secretary Mr Samuela Namosimalua and the iTaukei Affairs Board chief executive officer Mr Savenanca Kaunisela.
The agreement formalises two Cabinet Decisions that were meant to address benefit sharing and access for the ancestral landowners to Naboro Landfill. The Agreement recognises the importance of the Yavusa Bativudi and sets aside a community levy from the proceedings of the Naboro Landfill Operations.
The Agreement was long overdue as the first of the Cabinet decisions concerning community levy was made in the year 2004.
Community Levy payments prior to the agreement had been paid out on an intermittent and inconsistent basis. The Agreement holds the promise of consistent, accountable, transparent and timely transfer of benefits to the ancestral landowners. The Agreement is valid for the next three years and will be due for review in September 2017.
The Agreement signed also sets out the Ministry for Local Government, Housing and Environment as responsible for setting aside the necessary community levy funds from revenue received from the operations of Naboro Landfill and assigns the iTaukei Affairs Board responsibility to administer the funds to the Rewa Provincial Council and the Yavusa Bativudi.
The Agreement further binds the administration of these funds for educational purposes, village upgrading and housing, small scale entrepreneurships and village functions and funerals thus addressing the grassroots needs.
The highlight of the Agreement signing was the official handing over of an official cheque of accumulated community levy by Mr Namosimalua to Mr Kaunisela.
The handing over of the accumulated community levy signifies the very important role that the iTaukei Affairs Board plays in representing and safeguarding the interest of the iTaukei Community and also signifies the continued commitment of the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment towards equity and benefits sharing.
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