PRIME MINISTER HON. SITIVENI RABUKA'S OPENING ADDRESS AT THE LAUTOKA PROJECTS OPENING CEREMONY

Marking the completion of Queen’s Wharf Rehabilitation, Dredging, Yard 4 Upgrade, and launch of the Lautoka Port Master Plan

Na Momo Levu Na Tui Vitogo, Taukei Sukanacagi;
The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr Peter Roberts;
The Board of Directors, Management and staff of Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and Fiji Ports Terminal Limited;
Representatives of the Australia Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP);
Representatives of Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Fiji Revenue & Customs Services;
Consultants and Contractors;
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;
The people of Lautoka and the Western Division;
 
Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
 
It is with immense pride and a deep sense of national purpose that I stand before you today at the Lautoka Port — the beating heart of Fiji's western economic corridor — to officially open the Yard 4 Container Project and Launch the Port Master Plan. This is not merely the commissioning of additional port infrastructure.

This is a declaration of intent: that Fiji is open for business, that we are investing in our future, and that we refuse to be constrained by the limits of yesterday's infrastructure.
 
Lautoka has long been one of Fiji's most vital economic gateways. As Fiji's second international port, it serves our farmers, our manufacturers, our importers and exporters, our tourism industry, and ultimately — every Fijian household that depends on the efficient flow of goods and trade. Today, we make that gateway stronger, smarter, and better equipped to serve the next generation of Fijians.
 
THE JOURNEY TO TODAY
This project did not happen by accident. It is the product of disciplined planning, strategic investment, and strong partnerships forged across government, industry, and our regional development partners.
 
In September 2024, I did the groundbreaking ceremony for this Yard 4 Project and now after 18 months of its completion, I am so honoured to be standing before you in officially opening this Container Yard together with the successful completion of Queen’s Wharf Rehabilitation, Dredging, and the launch of the Lautoka Port Master Plan.
 
I gather that FPCL has done substantial amount of investment into these projects:
 
a) Queen’s Wharf Rehabilitation – to improve structural integrity and operational safety (FJ$14m).

b) Dredging – to enhance operational reliability, improve marine safety, and strengthen FPCL’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, efficient, and resilient maritime infrastructure at the Port of Lautoka (FJ$6.81m).

c) Lautoka Port Foreshore Development and Port Master Plan - to provide a structured, long-term development framework that guides the sustainable expansion, modernization, and efficient utilization of the Port of Lautoka (FJ$503,754).

d) Container Yard 3 & 4 Upgrades - to expand container yard capacity and enhance overall port efficiency to meet growing cargo volumes and operational demands (FJ$24.3m).
 
A 30-YEAR VISION FOR LAUTOKA PORT
The Lautoka Port Master Plan is a document of national significance. It provides a strategic roadmap to transform Lautoka Port into a resilient, efficient, and future-ready maritime gateway — one that is aligned with Fiji's national development priorities, supports our economic growth, and is adapted to the realities of climate change.
 
Let me share with you what the data tells us about the future of trade through Lautoka:
i) Container throughput currently stands at approximately 80,000 TEUs (2023) and is projected to grow between 2.34% and 2.93% annually — reaching up to 120,000 TEUs by 2045 and between 160,000 and 190,000 TEUs by 2053. That is nearly double current volumes.

ii) Vehicle imports, currently around 2,000 units annually, are expected to grow steadily — with the electric vehicle transition expected to account for 9–12% of car imports by 2030.

iii) Bulk trade volumes — driven by sugar, molasses, fertiliser, LPG, and iron ore — are projected to grow from approximately 600,000 tonnes today to between 768,000 and 800,000 tonnes by 2053. A modest rate of 0.85% to 1.0% per year projected growth.

iv) Cruise ship calls are recovering strongly post-COVID and are projected to grow from approximately 30 calls in 2024 to between 40 and 50 annually by 2053 — with the potential to deliver up to 250,000 cruise passengers regionally by 2040.
 
These are not abstract numbers. They represent livelihoods, jobs, businesses, and the economic security of the Fijian people. And they demand that we act — which is exactly what today represents.
 
The Port Master Plan also highlights the infrastructure needed to support this growth. It identifies the need to expand berth capacity, improve yard space, and upgrade operational facilities so that the port can operate efficiently and safely as demand increases.
 
Projects such as the Yard 4 Container Development, which we are opening today, represent practical steps toward achieving these goals.
 
By expanding container yard capacity and improving operational flow, this project will help ensure that Lautoka Port can handle growing trade volumes while maintaining efficient service for shipping lines, exporters, and importers.
 
In the coming years, further developments—including berth extensions, yard expansions, improved logistics infrastructure, and enhanced customs and biosecurity facilities—will strengthen this port even further.
 
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YARD 4
The Yard 4 Container Project is a direct and urgent response to one of the most pressing challenges identified in the Master Plan: yard capacity constraints.
 
The existing container yard, at approximately 4 hectares, is already operating close to its effective limits — capable of supporting only 85,000 to 89,000 TEUs at efficient utilisation levels. Projections confirm that without intervention, additional yard capacity will be needed as early as 2027 to 2029. Yard 4 is that intervention.
 
By expanding and activating this yard space, we are not merely adding square metres. We are:
i) Creating the stacking area needed to handle rising container volumes from Fiji's growing trade;
ii) Providing dedicated truck exchange zones to improve port logistics and reduce congestion;
iii) Supporting the 200 TEU ground slots per hectare efficiency target that will keep Lautoka competitive with regional ports;
iv) Laying the groundwork for broader port modernisation, including biosecurity improvements, customs infrastructure, and operational upgrades.

This is infrastructure that works for our farmers, our importers, our exporters, and our logistics sector. This is infrastructure that strengthens Fiji's position as a reliable and efficient maritime hub in the Pacific.
 
PARTNERSHIP AND GRATITUDE
Lautoka Port plays a vital role in the economy of the Western Division and the nation as a whole. It supports agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and regional trade. It enables our farmers, businesses, and exporters to connect with markets beyond our shores. Most importantly, it creates jobs and opportunities for the people of Fiji.
 
That is why investments like this are so important. They are not simply about infrastructure—they are about building a stronger and more resilient economy for our people.
 
My Government wishes to express its sincere gratitude to our partners who made this milestone possible.
 
To the Australia Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific — AIFFP — we thank you for your confidence in Fiji's infrastructure ambitions and for your support in financing this critical work. Your investment in Lautoka Port is an investment in Pacific regional trade and prosperity.
 
To GHD (Fiji) Ltd, we commend your professionalism, technical rigour, and commitment in delivering the Port Master Plan.
 
And the many stakeholders, government agencies, and port users who participated in consultations throughout the development of the Master Plan.
 
To other Consultants and Contractors involved in delivering successful projects for the Lautoka Port.
 
To the Board and Management of Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, thank you for your leadership, your stewardship of this nation's ports, and your determination to position FPCL as a world-class port operator.
 
And to the workers and teams whose hands and expertise built what we see here today — vinaka vakalevu. This is your achievement.
 
Your collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when government, industry, and development partners work together toward a shared vision.
 
THE ROAD AHEAD
The completion of Yard 4 is a significant milestone — but it is one chapter in a much longer story. The Lautoka Port Master Plan charts infrastructure development over a 30-year horizon, and my Government is committed to advancing that vision with the same discipline and partnership that brought us to today.
 
We also recognise the importance of climate resilience. Lautoka Port must be built not only for today's trade volumes, but for tomorrow's climate realities. Every infrastructure decision going forward will be informed by our commitment to sustainability and long-term resilience.
 
Fiji is a small island developing state — but we think big. We invest strategically. And we build for our children.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, trade is the lifeblood of our economy. Our ports are the veins through which that lifeblood flows. When we invest in our ports, we invest in every sector of our economy — agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, retail, and services.
 
Today, with the opening of Lautoka Port Yard 4, we send a clear signal to investors, to our regional partners, and to the Fijian people: this Government is serious about infrastructure. This Government is serious about trade. And this Government is serious about building a stronger, more prosperous Fiji.
 
As we open the Lautoka Port Yard 4 Container Project today, we are not only celebrating a completed facility.
 
We are celebrating progress. We are reaffirming our commitment to building modern, efficient infrastructure. And we are laying the groundwork for the next generation of maritime development in Fiji.
 
With that, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare the Lautoka Port Yard 4 Container Project open.
 
May Yard 4 serve our nation well — not just for today, but for the generations that will follow in our wake.
 
Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. God bless Fiji.