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The Government has finally approved the importation of canned beef from Papua New Guinea. The Ox and Palm brand corned beef was the only product of PNG origin that had not been given import approval because of quarantine issues. The approval comes after quarantine officials from the Ministry of Agriculture visited PNG a month ago and inspected the cooking and packing facilities for the item. Agriculture chief executive officer Luke Ratuvuki said the approval had certain conditions attached to ensure the product met Fiji’s quarantine and health requirements. (FT) It would cost the Suva City Council $45million to re-develop the Suva market, the Suva bus station and car parking areas next year. Council Assistant Director Engineering Services Jagdish Singh said the cost of replacing asbestos roofing at the Suva market alone would cost $1million. (FT) More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in January, says chairman of the organizing committee at the World Harvest Centre, Reverend Suliasi Kurulo. Mr Kurulo said they had already begun to train volunteers for the crusade. The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade will be held at the Post Fiji Stadium from January 20 to 22. (FT) Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has expressed interest to expand the coconut and spices business sector in Fiji. Speaking in a meeting held in Kerala, India, Mr Qarase said he would look into ways of attracting Indian potential investors to Fiji. He said Fiji had a climate similar to Kerala and therefore had a similar line of crop. Mr Qarase added that Fiji imported coconut oil from the United States of America and were currently looking at ways to expand to other value-added products of coconut. Mr Qarase added that he preferred to have the big Indian investors to Fiji considering its high population. (FT) Fiji is ready for the implementation of the Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) as soon as practically possible. Cabinet gave its endorsement early this week following a submission by the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, the Minister for Tourism, Pita Nacuva. PICTA is a regional free trade Agreement among the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Cabinet noted that Fiji’s well developed infrastructure and strategic location in the region, guarantee early benefits from the inclusion of services such as aviation, shipping, health, and telecommunications in PICTA. (DP) Sunday - October 16, 2005 People from al walks of life are invited to attend a week-long awareness campaign against poverty in Fiji which begins tomorrow. Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Minister Adi Asenaca Caucau said the main purpose of the Poverty Eradication Week campaign was to enable and empower people living below the poverty line to walk out of poverty and into prosperity. She said the awareness would also focus on those that are facing various forms of hardships by teaching them skills on how to overcome poverty. She said to eradicate poverty in Fiji, we need spiritual enhancement that would encourage people living under the poverty line to understand that they could do more to earn a living. (FS) In an effort to create awareness about long-term investments in the outer islands and rural areas of Fiji, the Capital Markets Development Authority (CMDA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation conducted a one day workshop. The workshop was part of the Department of Women’s community development programme and coincided with the International Rural Women’s Day, celebrated yesterday. The workshop was conducted in Fijian. CMDA chief executive officer Suren Kumar said: “The CMDA has noticed a growing trend in the number of provincial and district owned companies and individuals that are already successfully investing in shares, bonds and unit trusts and enjoying the benefits. (DP) Fisheries and Forests Minister Konisi Yabaki has sealed a deal with McConnell Dowell, a Fiji-based New Zealand company, to construct the port in Bua. Although McConnell Dowell representatives were not present at the signing ceremony last week, they had already signed the agreement and the consultants for designing and providing costs to the port Erasito/Beca were present to witness the signing. Mr Yabaki said the integrated development port of Bua, locally named Wairiki Port is a very important one for Fiji and in particular to be initially utilized by the Fiji Pine Limited through its subsidiary Tropik Woods. (DP) Monday - October 17, 2005 Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase is looking forward to maintaining a better relationship between Fiji and the Indian Government after his recent trip to India. Speaking from Sydney yesterday morning, Mr Qarase said exchange trips from the Indian business sector delegations in the near future should also strengthen the two countries’ business relations. Mr Qarase said the trip was a successful one and would benefit all sectors of the economy. “One of the highlights of the visit was that the Government of Fiji signed four Memorandums of Understanding with the Government of India. “These MOUs were in areas of tourism, health, information technology and joint bilateral trade between the two countries,” Mr Qarase said. (FT) The 18th Australia Business Forum with the theme “Fiji’s Real Potential” starts today at the Fijian Resort. The Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase who returned from his trip to India last night will represent Fiji at the meeting. Held annually since 1988, the business forum is the major annual bilateral business meeting between Australia and Fiji with the venue alternating between the two countries. A release from the Australia Business Council stated that participants would have an unparalleled opportunity to learn about business opportunities for businesses in Fiji and relevant case studies. (FT) Fiji has come out with a series of incentives to attract Bollywood for film production here and at the same time set its target to increase tourist arrivals in the island nation to 10,000 every year in the next five years. “The tax incentives planned by Fiji Government include a 15 per cent cash rebate based on the amount of Fiji expenditure the production house spends,” said Minister for Commerce, Business Development and Investment, Tomasi Vuetilovoni. The producer can also raise production budget from Fiji’s taxpayers who then can claim up to 150 per cent tax deduction or he can set up an audio-visual operation in the studio city zones and become eligible for tax free income for the audio visual earnings, he added. (FS) Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is hoping to enter into agreements with Indian companies for a foray into the information technology sector. Mr Qarase, who visited India’s number two IT company Infosys Bangalore at the weekend, told Web India that Fiji had all the right ingredients to establish a foothold in the sector. “I think we have all the ingredients there for the establishment of an IT industry in Fiji. The two nations have also decided to set up India-Fiji Business Council to strengthen two-way trade. Bilateral trade between India and Fiji stood at 28.5 million dollars in 2004-05. (FS) India’s role in reforming Fiji’s ailing sugar industry will be a crucial one, says Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. Mr Qarase, who visited India last week with a 50-member business delegation, told Indian media that India and Fiji had much to offer each other. The Prime Minister said the three-year reform process involving the sugar industry, which has just begun, is based on the recommendations made by the Sugar Technology Mission from India. “It is expected to be complete by 2007,” Mr Qarase said. An 11-member Fijian team comprising Ministers and officials visited the Bannari Ammam Sugars unit at Alanganchi village near Nanjangud in Karnataka to take a look at the factory. (DP) -End- |
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