PM’s full speech
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID WELCOMING NEW INVESTMENTS, OPENING NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT THE OLD CAPITAL IS PROOF OF HIS GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO HELPING FIJIANS HELP THEMSELVES.
The Prime Minister made the address at the opening of the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO)new cold storage facility in Levuka.
Honourable Ministers; Turaga na Tui Levuka, Turaga na Tui
Wailevu, Turaga na Ratu and Turaga na Roko Takala; the chairman and directors of Pacific Fishing Company Limited; Bumble Bee executives; invited guests; ladies and gentlemen, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka and good morning to you all.
It’s a great pleasure for me to be spending time here in Ovalau this week; there are few places in our country where I feel so connected to our country’s rich history. The hospitality and warmth that our fellow Fijians of Ovalau have extended to me makes me feel right at home–– and for that, I thank you.
My last visit took place in 2016, after Ovalau fell victim to the widespread destruction of Tropical Cyclone Winston. While it’s always good to be back in Levuka, this visit has been particularly encouraging.
In the wake of the storm’s devastation, it was unimaginable to think that we’d be here today, just two years later––welcoming new investments, opening new developments, and equipping Fijians with the tools to grow their businesses.
But all of this is proof of my Government’s commitment to ensuring that each and every Fijian enjoys the benefits of our nation’s growing economy, regardless of who they are or where in Fiji they call home.
And I’ve made it a personal mission to make sure that our many maritime communities are not overlooked, but instead, are brought to new heights. Today, I am proud to honour that commitment in a big way. And it’s going to be a very busy day indeed–– this is just one stop of many that we have planned to bring new services, improve lives, and enable livelihoods of Fijian families in Ovalau.
We will be handing out 264 Micro and Small Business Grants here in Levuka–– an investment directly into the capable hands of the Fijian people. These grants will turn your neighbours’ business ideas into reality, helping those with the drive to succeed to help themselves.
I will also be commissioning the firstever Legal Aid Office in Ovalau. Those seeking legal services will no longer have to make the long journey to Viti Levu. Now, in your own back yard, you will be able to draft wills, seek representation in the courts and access free legal advice. You will also be able to file records with the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry with the official opening of the BDM office here in Levuka.
In the afternoon, I’ll also be officially opening the new Levuka Market Bridge. This is just one of three bridges that have been made possible in Ovalau, an investment of 8.8 million dollars in all. This is thanks to my Government’s pledge to improving Fiji’s infrastructure, allowing all Fijians to move about freely to visit their families, commute to markets and healthcare, and increase access to tourism dollars.
We will also be providing a boat and two engines to fishing groups, giving them the tools to succeed and build a livelihood and support their families. This, again, is proof of my Government’s commitment to helping Fijians help themselves.
Because as much as the Opposition likes to insult everyday workers by calling Government investments like these “handouts”, visits like this week in Ovalau allow me to see one thing that they will never understand: the great potential in Fijian people–– success that is just waiting to be tapped into.
And to top off the day, I have the honour of officially commissioning the newly-relocated Nauou Village. This is a project that is very close to my heart–– because it’s the people of Nauou, and other vulnerable communities like it, who have driven Fiji to the global stage in the past year to lead the international community in the fight against climate change.
As President of COP23, I made sure that the voices of Ovalau were spread far and wide, and stories of your climate hardships have been taken to Germany, to Paris, and to the rest of the world. And by doing this, we are moving the needle of progress, making real changes that will help to preserve our islands, our ocean, our environment, and our planet for future generations. And, as we look ahead, there’s even more progress that the people of Ovalau can look forward to. The 2018-2019 Budget has set aside 3.2 million dollars for the new Moturiki Water Supply Project, which will allow for the piping of water from Bureta across the sea to the eight villages and 858 households on Moturiki Island.
But, ladies and gentlemen, this location –– where we’re starting the day –– is no coincidence.
Pacific Fishing Company Limited
Pacific Fishing Company Limited, or as we all know it, PAFCO, has become what Ovalau has become known for. It’s transformed Levuka from our former political capital to the tuna capital of Fiji and a true economic driver for the people of this island.
That’s why I’m delighted to be here this morning to officially open the new cold storage facility for PAFCO. PAFCO has come a long way since its establishment in 1964, when its primary business was to receive and hold tuna for shipment to Japan for processing. PAFCO’s tuna is now proudly stocked on the shelves of supermarkets all over America.
As some of you know, just like its operations, the history of PAFCO’s ownership and management has also evolved. Initially a joint venture between the governments of Fiji and Japan, the Fijian Government acquired almost full ownership of the company in 1987. We now hold a 99.6 per cent ownership stake in the company.
Over the last 54 years, PAFCO has been the primary driver for employment in not only Ovalau, but also the entire Lomaiviti Province, providing socioeconomic benefits to the people in the region for more than five decades.
It’s truly become a pillar of this community, and it’s a pillar that my Government proudly supports –– and, as we see today, that support will continue in new and innovative ways.
In recent years, my FijiFirst Government has assisted PAFCO by:
Providing a loan of 9 million dollars in 2015 to assist in the construction of this new cold storage facility.
Supporting the company’s request for a Government Guarantee of 11.3 million dollars for a loan that is being utilised for factory renovations and upgrades, which was subsequently approved by Parliament in 2015.
Allocating 1.7 million dollars in the 2017/2018 Budget for the repair of PAFCO’s seawall, which was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. This work is in progress and is expected to be completed by mid-October.
And it’s not only financial assistance; by working hand-in-hand with tuna industry stakeholders, my Government has worked to address the policy issues facing PAFCO and the fish that are its lifeblood.
In last year’s Budget, we removed VAT for PAFCO’s tuna suppliers, and granted an Export Income Deduction incentive to those local suppliers looking to export and process PAFCO’s tuna. Government has also given a one-year extension on duty concessions for imported items that are critical for PAFCO’s operations.
But, ladies and gentlemen, this facility we have the pleasure of opening today is the boldest step yet in my Government’s support of PAFCO. This new cold storage facility, worth 16.4 million dollars, was co-funded through a 9-million-dollar Government loan, a 6-million-dollar loan from Bumble Bee, and a contribution of 1.4 million dollars from PAFCO. This crucial investment in the new cold storage facility will greatly bolster PAFCO’s storage capacity, increasing the amount of raw tuna it can hold from 3000 to 4000 metric tonnes.
New facility to increase production
Ladies and gentlemen, with this new cold storage facility, PAFCO is expected to increase production by 10 per cent each year. Today, the normal daily production is 80 metric tonnes, or, in terms of whole fish, around 6,400 fish per day. With more fish in stock, PAFCO will be able to increase production when it’s needed most. The cost of maintaining the old cold storage facility, averaging around 100,000 dollars each year, will now be a thing of the past.
These cost savings, paired with the financial benefits of increased production and more efficient storage, will be felt at every level of the company, as PAFCO will be in a better position to invest back into its infrastructure and its people, creating even more jobs for the people of Lomaiviti.
But, in the end, no company would succeed without a customer to sell its product to. For PAFCO, we have so much more than a customer–– we have a true friend and partner in development. I’m speaking, of course, of Bumble Bee Foods, whose executives are here with us today. I’d like to thank them personally, and on behalf of all Fijians, especially for their generous co-funding of this facility. Vinaka vakalevu.
Your shared confidence in PAFCO, and in the Fijian people, has been made clear with the extension of your processing agreement for another 10 years. We look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership between Bumble Bee and Fiji for the next decade. Ladies and Gentlemen, much like Fiji Pine, Fiji Airways and Fiji Airports, PAFCO has truly been a turnaround story under my Government’s leadership. The company has transformed a loss of 4.3 million dollars back in 2011 to five years of positive financial gains, with a truly impressive 1.8-million-dollar profit recorded in 2017.
I must acknowledge and thank the PAFCO Chairman and the Board for their guidance and responsible economic stewardship of the company. While leadership and support are important, my Government recognises that above all else, the greatest asset of any company is its people.
To the management and staff of PAFCO, I thank you for your hard work and dedication, your grit and determination, which has brought us all here today.
In acknowledgement of your invaluable contribution, I am pleased to note that, based on the Board’s recommendation, a considerable 12.5 per cent salary increase has been approved on 27 July 2018 for all of PAFCO’s 1188 non-management staff.
Moreover, this pay increase will be backdated to 1 January 2018, meaning that all of the work that you’ve put in so far this year will be back-paid at this higher rate. I thank each of you, and offer my congratulations.
Now that we have many reasons to celebrate, it’s my pleasure to officially open PAFCO’s new cold storage facility. I look forward to watching the company, and its people, continue to grow and fuel the communities you call home. Thank you. Vinaka Vakalevu.
Much like Fiji Pine, Fiji Airways and Fiji Airports, PAFCO has truly been a turnaround story under my Government’s leadership. The company has transformed a loss of 4.3 million dollars back in 2011 to five years of positive financial gains, with a truly impressive 1.8-million-dollar profit recorded in 2017.