Call for Local Designers, Builders to Pitch In for Two Future Suva Developments
There’s a call for local designers and builders to pitch for two important Suva developments announced in the 2021-2022 BUDGET announcement last Friday.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced that there would be an investment into a new ICT Park in Tamavua and the construction of a United Nations Building to serve as the UN Headquarters in the Pacific.
Construction Industry Council President Gordon Jenkins highlighted that they believe that the budget was as expected with the focus on the current pandemic.
“The Government must keep a lid on the current pandemic to be able to progress in the future.
“The most enlightening item is the possibility of a future UN Headquarters in Suva.
“Preferably it would be great for the development to be totally local i.e. developed/designed/built but in the circumstances UN may require that all services would be supplied from members many of whom are offshore in which case a JV with a local practitioner should be acceptable for local input at all stages.
“The plan to undertake this is truly a major step for the current construction industry in Fiji.
“Hopefully this gives impetus to develop and build by others.”
He added faster building permit approval by local bodies must give developers and designers greater confidence in the system after having to persevere with long delays previously encountered.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “We are the hub of the region, and we look forward to being the home of the UN’s Pacific operations.
“We are inviting private investors to build a “Purpose-Build” building to accommodate all of the services of the United Nations in a single, secure, and functional complex in the central business district of Suva.”
He noted there are possible sites that have been identified, and there are potential investors who are willing to provide a total office floor area of at least 10,000 square metres including coffee shops, car parks and other requirements of the UN.
“The investor, once selected, will be required to complete the building in no more than 30 months from the date of the letter of undertaking. “From the day we break ground on this HQ, we’ll create jobs in construction, and playing host to the UN will reap huge benefits for Suva, for Fiji, and the Pacific at-large. Because the UN, is an institution worth hosting,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
Telecom IT Park
“We will expand the TFR Incentive to Tamavua, Suva, specifically for investment in a new ICT Park.
“The park will include data storage services for businesses with a 20 year tax holiday for investments more than $10 million dollars.”
Further areas to be discussed
Meanwhile Mr Jenkins said further areas that should be addressed are:
- Adoption of the revised Building
Code for better Consumer protection. This is currently being reviewed by a construction group headed by the Ministry of Infrastructure.
-Adoption of Licensing Builders in Fiji again to protect the Consumer as well as lessening the bad vibes that honest contractors are subject too. The Consumer Council currently deals with numerous complaints in this area. It is noted that this regulation is self-financing.
-Enforcement of construction standards by the appropriate Government Departments to ensure all construction products are first class and that unwary Consumers are not sold second rate products.
“Hopefully these items are addressed in the upcoming budget in six months times.”