Last year was a good year for service provider

Struggle of SMEs

The opening of the local and international border has not brought the economic uptake for SME business owners as expected. According to Fiji SME Business Owners Network founder Kim Beddoes, the perception with the reopening was that economic activity would pick up and the problems for SME owners would disappear. “It has been nothing of...

Tourism, jobs expected to rise

The completion of the much anticipated Nawi Island is expected to spur an increase in tourism which will increase employment opportunities and, more importantly, feed into and assist tourism and SME partners throughout the Northern Division. In a media statement the Nawi Island management said they were working with other local stakeholders to form strategic...

Investment pays off – Family members support each other in moving business ahead

Hemal Khatri took a chance and registered his own photography and cinematography business – Special Moments Photography & Cinematography and Photography Studio – in 2019 only to be hit by COVID-19 pandemic the following year. “Things were difficult because during the pandemic I had lost my day job and so I decided to give my...

Watchdog notes rise in expired goods being sold

There has been an influx in cases of expired goods being sold to consumers, according to the Consumer Council of Fiji (CCF). This came after continuous market surveillance by the council over the past week. It was stated that businesses took advantage of the shopping hype for Eid celebrations by placing expired and near-expiry products...

RBF maintains OPR at 0.25pc

Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) board has maintained the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 0.25 per cent. In a statement from the bank, the Governor and chairman of the board, Ariff Ali, noted that while some major trading partner economies had started to tighten their monetary policy stance to contain rising price pressures, safeguarding growth...

Expo promotes network – Fynch

An international buyer says this year’s Fijian Tourism Expo allowed them to unlock quite a lot of things that have been blocked from the past. Hotelbeds head of sourcing for the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific markets Matt Fynch said it was quite a huge relief to be able to travel to Fiji because most...

Westpac supports tourism industry

Fijian Tourism Expo gold sponsors Westpac, is optimistic about the future for tourism in Fiji and is proud to have been a major sponsor at this year’s exchange. Westpac Fiji chief executive Shane Smith explained the bank was committed to the event because of its recognition of the tourism sector’s enormous contribution to the national...

A-G: Fiji’s debt repayment around $100m annually on average; $3bn foreign reserves

Fiji’s external debt repayment, on average, is just around $100million annually and $3billion available in foreign reserves. This, according to Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and adds this is 30 times more than what is needed for external debt repayments. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to a question in parliament by Adi Selai Adimaitoga...

Bank invests $2.6m

The opening of a new BRED Bank branch in Lautoka City marks the beginning of a fresh phase in the development of the city; an expansion of facilities and strengthening of efforts to render financial services to the people of Lautoka both for commercial and retail customers. President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere noted this when he officially opened the...

90 per cent occupancy at Denarau Island

Denarau Island’s occupancy rate stands at 90 per cent this week as there is focus on bringing this to100 per cent next year. According to Denarau Corporation Ltd general manager Nesbitt Hazelman, for the past two years, Denarau Island was like a ghost town. “It’s really good to see the tourists out, walking on our footpath, walking...

New restaurant and supermarket to cater for residents

The Grace Road Group’s newest establishment opened on Friday at Wailoaloa in Nadi, creating employment for 10 people with plans to add 20 more to the list in future. Grace Road Group marketing and Operations manager Grace Sungdo said their popular store True Mart is situated on the ground floor while the first floor carries the...

Public outrage on change in fares

People using bus services expressed concerns yesterday as the new fares announced by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission kicked in. Those who spoke to The Fiji Times said they did not realise the level of the hike until they tapped their e-ticketing cards early in the morning. Timoci Lagilevu who was waiting to board the...

Foreign investment certificates: 63 issued with a combined value of $745m

Investment Fiji issued 163 foreign investment certificates which had a proposed combined value of $745m in the 2019-2020 financial year, states its annual report that was tabled in Parliament this week. Investment Fiji said these 163 investments were expected to generate 3434 jobs. Investment Fiji received 1592 investment and trade enquiries through marketing initiatives in key markets,...

$3.9m alleged tax related evasion case

At a time when nightclubs were closed during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, a nightclub owner received $3.9 million into the nightclub’s bank accounts. The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) said in its 2021 annual report presented in Parliament this week, that this was a case of alleged tax related offence, tax evasion and money laundering. “Mr X...

Fiji exports $3.4m worth of kava to Australia in five months

Fiji has already exported around 30.4 metric tonnes of kava to Australia earning around $3.4million in five months after commercial kava export was allowed again to the Land Down Under. Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy revealed this in parliament this week saying this was a substantial gain for Fiji. He says there are 146...

Fiji’s labour market demands skilled professionals – Koya

The Fijian labour market demands the availability of skilled professionals, says Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya. He told parliament that the Skilled Professionals Evaluation Committee (SPEC) – formed by the Registration of Skilled Professionals Act 2016 to support Fiji’s economic growth – had conducted a skill gap analysis to gather the...

Manufacturer focuses on use of recycled content

RECYCLED PET plastics cost a lot more than virgin PET plastics according to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) general manager Roger Hare. He said the company was willing to take on the extra cost as it was the right thing for the planet. “If we were looking to save costs, definitely virgin PET, which obviously comes...

Fund to take legal action

Some members of the Fiji National Provident Fund have been misled about the distribution of unclaimed FNPF funds by an individual claiming to be an agent. The fund urged members not to share their account information with individuals to those claiming to be FNPF agents. The individual is alleged to have misled not only members...

Flights to resume

National carrier Fiji Airways has announced plans to resume twice weekly direct services to Adelaide commencing on July 4 after three years. Chief executive Andre Viljoen made the announcement at the Fijian Tourism Expo in progress on Denarau Island. “We’re delighted to relaunch our fourth Australian route which will allow us once again to bring...

Expo a ray of hope for business

A local tourism business which was hit hard by the recent pandemic labelled the Fijian Tourism Expo as a ray of hope. Go Dirty Tours Fiji managing director Anand Achari says it is a huge relief to have international buyers back into Fiji to witness the hype the sector has been through in the past...

‘Expo most vital than ever’

The Fijian Tourism Expo has been our most important platform for conversation, connection and opportunity in our tourism sector, says President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. He noted this when he officiated at the opening of the Fijian Tourism Expo at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort on Denarau Island on Wednesday. “I believe this expo...

Recognition for initiative

Nadi International Airport has been recognised for its carbon emission reduction initiative. The airport is one of 12 in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions recognised by the Airports Council International and has been awarded the Green Airports Recognition 2022 in the “Below Five Million Passengers Per Annum” category. “This notable recognition is a...

Expert raises issues

An expert in solar electrification program has seen some inconsistencies in the installation of solar connections in villages of Vanua Levu. Paul Huang, executive of Dawn Renewable Energy which recently opened in Labasa, has done some assessments on solar installations in villages and saw that installation was not done properly. “We have very high demand...

Business

18th May