Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Harrak
Head of Operations, Vikram Gohil
Head of Corporate Services, Loalive Bale
Esteemed Guests
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula Vinaka and a Very Good Morning to you all!
Thank you for the invitation and it is a great pleasure to be here today.
On behalf of the Government, I congratulate the Management and team of RCL Services for their expansion and growth in Fiji and the local people.
It is pleasing to hear that RCL Services will be adding an additional 125 seats to its current operations – symbolising more job opportunities for the people of Fiji.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fiji Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering the growth of the outsourcing industry, which now supports a significant workforce of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 individuals. Notably, we have witnessed a surge in employment opportunities within the Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) and Information Technology Outsourcing sectors. These sectors have seen a rise in demand for skilled professionals such as accountants, business analysts, and credit intelligence specialists, among others.
The outsourcing industry plays a vital role in the Fiji Government’s economic diversification strategies, serving as a sustainable pillar of economic growth and development. This sector capitalises on several key advantages, with the ultimate goal of positioning Fiji as the outsourcing hub in the Pacific region. By doing so, we aim to create a robust and resilient economy that benefits the nation as a whole.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we see many Fijians leaving offshore, I firmly believe that the Outsourcing Industry offers an enticing prospect for our young people to remain in Fiji and showcase their exceptional skills and career aspirations in this rapidly expanding sector. By doing so, we can not only retain our brightest minds but also contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development.
Furthermore, our commitment to the industry has also grown and that is, from funding infrastructure, introducing new skills accreditation courses, to prioritising resilient ICT infrastructure critical for the growth of the industry. This is also demonstrated through our investment of $2.5 million towards the outsourcing industry in this financial year. These efforts collectively demonstrate our strong support for the industry and our determination to create a conducive environment for its continued growth and success.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With the favourable and investor friendly environment created by the Fiji Government, Google has announced an investment of US$200 million which will include a tier 3 Data Centre with the laying of two new transpacific subsea cables linking Fiji to the United States, Australia and French Polynesia thus expanding internet connectivity in the Pacific. The economic potential in Fiji has also attracted Satellite Broadband provider Starlink to also start providing its services in Fiji.
The two new subsea cables named Tabua and Honomoana with also the recent inclusion of Starlink marks a significant milestone in enhancing Fiji’s digital economy. These advancements will significantly strengthen digital connectivity within our nation as a whole as well as the region, leading to improved internet accessibility and reliability.
This, in turn, will drive more economic development and provide better access to digital services. These significant investments will also for sure pave the way for the continued expansion of the BPO and KPOs ensuring our vision of establishing Fiji as the destination of choice for outsourcing services.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week, the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications hosted a three-day validation workshop on the inaugural development of Fiji’s National Digital Strategy. This is being developed in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union and United Nations Office for Project Services. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, civil society as well as development partners to engage in a comprehensive discussion on the upcoming National Digital Strategy.
Once in effect, it will propel Fiji into the digital economy, fostering economic growth by expanding local businesses global reach, increasing job opportunities, while also enhancing consumer purchasing power with a wide range of choice.
In addition to this, the Ministry is also working on a National e-commerce strategy and National Cybersecurity Strategy, upon the finalisation of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Assessment. These will complement the broader National Digital Strategy which will pave a pathway for the advancement of Fiji’s digital economy and create an attractive and enabling environment for people and businesses in Fiji to flourish.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our capacity to reach the global market is ever increasing. We are now formerly part of IPEF and the only Pacific Island Country and Small Island Development States in the grouping. IPEF gives us access to a group that contributes 40% of the World GDP and â…“ of global trade. With partnerships like IPEF, we can continue to expand the reach of our exporters and outsourcing sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bringing us back to today’s event, I am proud that we as a nation are not only diversifying our economy but are also creating an enabling environment for investors like RCL to thrive in.
To the management and Board of RCL and the Recoveries Corporation Group Limited, thank you for your continued support and faith in our people. The Government is keen to work with you to bolster the outsourcing industry in Fiji and wish you the very best in future growth.
Thank you and Vinaka Vakalevu.