$60-$70m boost to economy
Sayed-Khaiyum: Projects to create jobs
THE construction of the Prime Minister’s Office, Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s new maternity wing and new police stations will pump between $60 million to $70 million into the Fijian economy.
This, according to Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
While speaking at the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s post budget discussion on Saturday in Suva, he said Government was trying to spur domestic investment by leading the charge.
“So, for example, when you look at Government capital expenditure, we’ve provided funding for capital projects which are ready-to-shovel projects,” the A-G said.
“So the EIA has been done, all the other checks have been done, the designs, the engineering, services, everything has been done — we are just ready to call for tenders and for the works to start.
“So we have the CWM Maternity Hospital new wing, that has been done, the tenders have been called, we have about three or four (police) stations that are already being done, but we are now going to expedite it.
“The PM’s Office has been parked for a number of years, all the groundwork has been done.
“This will literally, on the ground, create hundreds of jobs — people digging the foundation, laying the cement, plastering, tiling and painting.
“Just with the police stations, PM’s Office and CWM we are looking at a $60 to $70 million injection into the economy within one year, which is good.”