Singh: New Heights For Sugar Recovery
CEO DISCUSSES NEED TO CUSHION AGAINST HICCUPS
The Government would press on with its support for the sugar industry through the Fiji Sugar Corporation, permanent secretary for Sugar, Yogesh Karan said.
Major improvements on mill operations, cane supply and sugar production are among key focus areas for the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) in the approaching crushing season.
Newly appointed FSC chief executive officer, Bhan Pratap Singh, said the sugar industry remained a significant contributor to the nation’s economy.
He said it was vitally important that recovery plans were in place to cushion hiccups in the industry during such trying times. Mr Singh’s comments followed a special meeting with the permanent secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister and Sugar Industry, Yogesh Karan.
Path to recovery
“The industry has been directly and indirectly supporting a large portion of the Fijian population, and we will try and get the company back on a path to recovery,” Mr Singh said. “Improvements are required in the entire factory and field operations, plant performance and reliability, sugar recovery as well as improved quantity and quality of cane supplied to the mills.
“The recent cyclones and flood have impacted the cane farmers and the cane crop as well as some of the infrastructure in the mills and rail systems.
“This is an additional challenge that we will need to best manage.”
New heights
As the newly-appointed CEO for FSC, Mr Singh said the industry would reach new heights given his adequate level of competence and management capabilities.
This he was certain of with the support of the cane growers, government and stakeholders.
In congratulating the new CEO on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar Industry Voreqe Bainimarama, Mr Karan said Mr Singh possessed a wealth of experience.
Success
He said Mr Singh was familiar with the mechanics of the industry, and had knowledge on how to make the sugar sector succeed. Mr Karan said Mr Singh had a good network, and had developed relationship with the cane growers and stakeholders, as an added advantage.
Mr Karan further echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments that the Fijian Government would continue to press ahead and work with FSC in our efforts to raise the bar for productivity, increase the area under cane, improve yield and reduce production costs and also further assist our cane growers.
Mr Singh is expected to take up office on March 22, 2021.
Improvements are required in the entire factory and fiELD OPERATIONS, PLANT PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY, sugar recovery as WELL AS IMPROVED QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CANE SUPPLIED TO THE MILLS.
Bhan Pratap Singh
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFfiCER, FIJI Sugar Corporation