Don’t rush ‘Made in Fiji’ campaign: FEF

Fiji Live News - April 28, 2010 

Manufacturing members of the Fiji Employers Federation say they feel government should not rush into implementing a proposed ‘Made in Fiji’ and ‘Buy Fiji’ initiative.

In a note paper following a brainstorming session yesterday, members said the campaign should not go ahead “without close and detailed consultation”. 

They also said a one-day workshop to discuss the initiative with Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum “may not be enough”. 

“Further, due to the wide range of issues pertaining to “Made in Fiji”, it was felt that the appropriate thing to do was for the government to engage in more intimate dialogue after the consultation workshop.”

Announcing tomorrow’s workshop, Sayed-Khaiyum said in a statement that the one day contribution of the key stakeholders is vital to the initiative’s success.

“This initiative by the Bainimarama government is geared towards the promotion of local products and would include new classification for identification of Fijian grown, produced, manufactured, processed and also packaged products,” he said.

FEF members also said that the focus of Fiji’s manufacturing sector should be on value-adding and import substitution activities while the country’s export potential would be realised as the various industries within the sector matured.

They said however that this should not exclude existing export-oriented businesses.

Tourist figures rise by 11pc

Fiji Times - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

VISITOR arrivals for February and March this year have increased substantially according to figures released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics.

The official statistics show a total of 35,010 international travellers visiting Fiji throughout February an 11.5 per cent increase over the 31,386 recorded for the same period in 2009.

March figures also show an increase in visitor arrivals 46,750 international travellers came to Fiji representing a 29.4 per cent increase.

Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer Josefa Tuamoto said the achievements could be largely attributed to the success of its regional offices and industry partners in several key markets via an ongoing series of strategic marketing campaigns.

He said Australia and New Zealand were again the top two performers in terms of actual numbers of people visiting.

He said for the first quarter (January-March) the Australian figures reached 57,009 a 53.9 per cent increase over the 37,053 figure recorded in 2009.

While New Zealand numbers (January-March) rose from 9913 last year to 13,441 this year an increase of 35.6 per cent.

Mr Tuamoto said while base visitor figures in Fiji's targeted emerging markets remained relatively small, he was happy with the numbers from China, Taiwan and South Korea.

He said the three countries showed respective increases of 77.5percent, 86.8percent and 49.2 per cent for the first quarter.

Fiji bid to cut Food import bill

by Riteshni Singh

Fiji Times - Thursday, April 22, 2010

FIJI aims to reduce the national food import bill from $105million to $21million over a three-year period.

Ministry of Health head Dr Neil Sharma, who is representing Fiji at the Pacific Food Summit in Vanuatu, told delegates the aim could be achieved by increased private sector investment in agriculture, creation of market, control on pests and diseases spread, development of infrastructure and value adding.

Dr Sharma said some of the outcomes of the 2009 Food Symposium was that the summit agreed that NDCs and micronutrient deficiencies were a major threat to the Fiji economy.

"All stakeholders agreed that food security is everyone's responsibility and the public and private sector should maintain dialogue on issues such as improving food production and quality and how government can assist to improve food availability," he said.

He said the stakeholders agreed to eight areas that needed immediate attention to ensure food security and economic development.

"The eight areas were education and training, regulations and standards, production/research and development, trade and marketing, partnership, organisation strengthening, infrastructure and facilities and land tenure," he said.

Dr Sharma said the Ministry of Agriculture's major challenges were security of land tenure, loss of productive land to residential development, poor land management that led to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

He said the purpose of the summit was to determine how the public and private-civic sectors could work together to improve the health benefits of improving food security. "Food security and safety is not the business of the Ministry of Health alone. The Government relies on the support of all stakeholders, working together in partnership to achieve the national goal."

He said Fiji organised a national symposium on food security and export-led growth for resources-based sectors last week.

ADO to include Pacific economic analysis

Fijilive News - April 13, 2010 

The Asia Development Outlook (ADO) 2010 to be launched in Sydney later today will include a comprehensive economic analysis of more than 40 economies in developing Asia and the Pacific.

It will also include an analysis of the People’s Republic of China and India.

ADB External Relations Officer Sally Shute-Trembath said among other things, the ADO will explore how authorities in developing Asia can manage their macroeconomic policies for sustained growth in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

The ADO she said, examines the medium-term prospects for developing Asia, by country and by sub region – East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central and West Asia, and the Pacific. 

“It will touch on issues such as monetary policy frameworks, exchange rate regimes, fiscal sustainability, and the use of macroeconomic policy tools to help rebalance the region's growth,” Trembath said.

This year’s theme is "Macroeconomic Management Beyond The Crisis”.

ADB's Principal Economist Donghyun Park and Senior Pacific Country Economist Craig Sugden are two of the major contributors to the 2010 ADO.

The ADB's offices in Fiji and Papua New Guinea will participate in the event via video-conferencing.

Powdered Milk Prices Increase

by Timoci Vula

Fiji Times - Tuesday, April 13, 2010

PRICES of all powdered milk Rewa Dairy and other brands have increased.

The Prices and Incomes Board (PIB) approved the increases from 28 per cent to 41 per cent per carton as effective on Saturday, April 10.

The new price of a carton of Rewa powdered milk containing 24 packets (500grams) is $118.14, a 41 per cent increase from $84.01.

Consumers should expect to pay the new price of about $6 per packet once traders have purchased new stock, which includes the 12.5 per cent VAT and the 10 per cent mark up if traders bought directly from the factory.

For the other brands of instant full cream powdered milk, the price of a carton of 24x500g now sell at $127.70 from $99.66 a carton; a carton of 24x450g has increased to $114.93 from $89.69 a carton; and a carton of 24x425g increases to $108.54.

Accordingly, consumers should pay around $6.50 per packet of 500g, around $5.80 for a 450g packet, and around $5.50 for a 425g packet of other brands of powdered milk.

Acting PIB secretary Lusiana Naimawi said the increase in the ex-factory price of milk powder was because of the increase in the landed cost of milk powder. "Consumers are advised that the new prices will apply once traders have purchased their new stock," Ms Naimawi said.

Rewa Dairy chief executive Ratu Savenaca Seniloli welcomed the price increase.

"The co-operative is very appreciative of the price approved, which is based on the current landed price of milk powder and imported bulk butter," he said. "At least we are allowed to trade with margins and this will help our various commitments to our suppliers, factory improvements and the industry development activities.

"We urge that price adjustments be more prompt to reflect the fluctuating world dairy prices."

Ratu Savenaca said there are measures in place to increase local milk production but the shortfall was huge, and "we hope that the upcoming Food Security Symposium this Thursday will bring more serious focus to the local dairy industry".

Punja's Biodiesel Plant Brings Jobs

by Ifereimi Nadore

Fiji Times - Tuesday, April 13, 2010

MORE job opportunities are up for grab for those who are involved in the coconut and biodiesel industry.

And the State is keen in further exploring the pros and cons of manufacturing biodiesel from locally-produced coconut oil.

This followed an official visit by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and members of the national security council to the first-ever biodiesel service station in Lami Town yesterday.

Commodore Bainimarama and his team had a chance to get a first-hand experience of how biodiesel is produced after touring the premises with business tycoon Hari Punja.

The biodiesel service station is part of the Blue Gas Company, a subsidiary of the Punja Group of Companies.

Biodiesel Group (Fiji) Limited managing director Ajay Punja said manufacturing biodiesel locally opened up doors of opportunities for those involved in the coconut industry.

He said that biodiesel had a lot of benefits when compared to petroleum diesel.

"It would be better for the people of Fiji because it will reduce the importation of fuel, it is environmentally friendly and creates employment for those involved in the coconut and biodiesel industries," said Mr Punja.

"Coconut farmers themselves would be paid a reasonable sum because we offer them more than what they used to get previously."

As of yesterday, 300 vehicles were using biodiesel locally which include private vehicles,government vehicles,taxis and even buses.

Mr Punja said the company wanted to extend their service all over Fiji.

50 State Quarters up for Rent

Fijilive News - April 11, 2010 

A total of 50 Government Quarters are on commercial rent including those on rent to the Fiji School of Medicine, it has been confirmed.  

Permanent Secretary for the Public Service, Parmesh Chand said they have identified another 12 vacant quarters that will be renovated soon.

According to Chand, the Public Works Department is conducting the scoping works on these quarters which will be tendered out to private building companies for renovation.  

“PWD will also be included in the tender process,” Chand said.

It is expected that out of the 200 pool quarters in Suva, 100 would be on commercial rent by December 31, 2010 and expected revenue collected from the rental for Suva pool quarters only will be over $500,000.00. 

Chand said civil servants currently occupying pool quarters and not eligible to such quarters will be required to vacate the quarters by December 31 this year.

Those quarters will be renovated and put on commercial rent to the public as well. 

This, he said, is in line with the Prime Minister’s directive that ample notice be given to affected civil servants to find alternative accommodation.

He added non- entitled civil servants who wish to occupy government pool quarters in Suva will also pay commercial rent.

United Arab Emirates Pacific Islands Partnership Consolidated

Realfijinews - Saturday, 10 April 2010

• http://www.realfijinews.com

  
  

  

  
  

  New York, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Rahman Al Jarman, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, held a meeting with his counterparts for the Pacific countries at the UN to follow up results of an official visit made by Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Pacific Region in February including the Pacific Islands Partnership Program.

   

  The groundbreaking meeting, which took place at the UAE Mission, was attended by representatives from Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Nauru, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Micronesia, and Marshall Islands.

   

  Al Jarman briefed the attendees about the strategy of the Pacific Islands Partnership Program launched by the UAE to build and strengthen its relations with the island nations of the Pacific while assisting individual countries in their efforts toaddress a wide range of environmental, economic and developmental issues they are facing.

   

  He also updated the representatives of the Pacific countries about efforts made by the UAE deliver objectives of the Partnership in assisting these countries to undertake developmental projects in areas of education, social services, healthcare, renewable energy and climate change mitigation programs.

   

  The UAE is keen to support the islands nations of the Pacific in addressing these challenges. To do so, the UAE will seek to leverage not only its foreign aid program but also its deep and growing expertise in low carbon technologies.

   

  Launched during the first visit of Sheikh Abdullah to the Pacific Region in last February, the Partnership in the Pacific Program has been designed to facilitate meaningful cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Pacific island nations on programs and initiatives within a mutually developed co-operative framework. To that end the UAE has created a new starting program of $50 million to be awarded to specific projects and partnerships in the Pacific in critical developmental areas such as education, social and healthcare services and infrastructure.

   

  The UAE Permanent Representative said the four key elements of the "Partnership in the Pacific Program" include: Financial Assistance, Facilitating Dialogue, Developing Research/Academic Partnerships and Developing Tools in Partnership with theRegion and Capacity Building Programs.

   

  The delegates of the Pacific islands expressed gratitude of their countries to the Government of the UAE for its initiative which they praised the first of its kind at the international level. They affirmed that the Partnership provides a firm, clear and practical proof of the UAE's commitment to assist developing countries to build national capacities to addressescalating economic, humanitarian and climatic challenges.

   

  The UAE diplomat welcomed holding of collective or bilateral meetings to coordinate efforts for putting the partnership's objectives in place within the framework of the UN development agenda.

   

  The "Partnership in the Pacific Program" is consistent with the UAE s long-standing record of international cooperation and its rapidly expanding capabilities in the field of low carbon technologies as well as its diverse foreign aid program. It is also in line with the UAE s wish to strengthen and expand its relationships with the island nations of the Pacific and build on the already strong ties that characterize our growing bilateral relationships there.

   

  The "Partnership in the Pacific Program" is an outreach umbrella program initiated by the UAE to strengthen and increase co-operation with the island states of the Pacific in a number of key development areas.

   

  The "Partnership in the Pacific Program" aims to facilitate cooperation and to assist individual countries from the region in their own efforts to address social, economic and environmental as well as other developmental issues. In the area ofclimate change specifically, the program also seeks to establish a new model for country-to-country and country-to-region cooperation to address the domestic and cross-border impacts of one of the most truly global challenges the world has ever faced.

   

  With a growing interest in the field of low carbon technologies the UAE believes it is in an ideal position to contribute to international efforts and regional partnerships to address the social, environmental and economic impacts of climate change, at home and around the world as well as to build ties with island states in a number of other developmental areas.

  
  

Rewa Dairy Company Seeks Alternative Supply

Fiji Times - Friday, April 09, 2010

REWA Dairy Cooperative Limited is working with relevant government departments towards finding alternative sources of dairy products.

The company imports dairy products from New Zealand and Australia.

Company chief executive officer Ratu Savenaca Seniloli said there was a constant demand for butter.

"If the import volume is available and the trading environment becomes friendly, the co-operative will endeavour to increase import orders," he said.

Ratu Savenaca said they were awaiting official word from the Prices and Incomes Board on the approved price that would reflect the landed price of butter and milk powder. Last week Ratu Savenaca said they were not producing any extra butter for the retail market. He said this was because of the under-trading the company had been doing for months.

Ratu Savenaca said the indication from their established supplier was that the prices were still firming, "even into the next quarter". "Since the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand and Australia is going into winter (dry season), there is more pressure to the supply side," Ratu Savenaca said.

"From an import reliant country, the only way to mitigate exposure to fluctuating world food prices and availability is to produce more of our own food."

Ratu Savenaca said people growing their own food was and should be the national aim.

"The co-operative, being a developing partner, utilises the margins gained from trading all the dairy lines to provide support measures to the local dairy industry," he said.

Ratu Savenaca explained that in the early 1990s, bulk suppliers contributed over 75 per cent of the local milk received at the factory and the balance from small holders. "There was only one rural chilling centre then. Now, there are five rural milk chilling centres and more small holders the small holders are now contributing over 45 per cent, and bulk suppliers' contribution has dropped significantly mainly due to the expiring and soon-to-expire land leases," he said.

Ratu Savenaca said State policy in the '90s to expand rural milk centres worked as the industry was able to maintain an annual supply of around 11,000,000 litres.

Another Hike in Prices of Milk, Butter

09 April 2010 

Consumers will have to dig deeper into their pockets as the prices of butter and powdered milk increases from tomorrow.

The price of 125 gram of Rewa butter increases from $0.99 to $1.37; 250grams of butter from $1.84 to $2.71; and 500gram butter from $3.55 to $5.40.

According to the Prices and Incomes Board, the substantial increase in price reflects the escalating dairy product prices in the world market which subsequently results in high import cost of bulk butter, the major raw material for local butter.

The retail price of butter is an increase by 52 per cent while the new powdered milk prices reflects an increase of 40 per cent, from $3.50 to $4.92.

Consumers are also advised that the prices will differ in other centers due to additional delivery and cartage charges.

The new prices were approved by Finance Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama following a submission by Rewa Dairy Co-operative Limited.

Fiji Economy Expected to do Better: World Bank

Fiji Live - 08/04/2010

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The World Bank expects Fiji’s economy to do better in 2010 than it did last year.

The forecast is part of the World Bank's latest assessment released in Tokyo today.

Radio Australia reports the bank's half-yearly East Asia and Pacific Economic Update said the Pacific is set to benefit from the strong resurgence in East Asian economies and predicts growth for the region of 8.7 per cent in 2010 - almost a full percentage point higher than the forecast in its most recent assessment in November 2009.

The Bank’s chief economist Vikram Nehru said East Asia will grow strongly despite the weakened world economy.

The World Bank rated Fiji’s economic performance last year as the worst in a decade.

Nehru told Radio Australia that while it is difficult to say how much better Fiji would do this year, its economy would improve.

“They have obviously been hit by natural disasters, there are strained relations with the aid and the international community, so things are likely to be difficult, but we still expect that 2010 is going to be better than 2009,” Nehru said.

He also explained why economies like Vanuatu are doing well.

“Vanuatu has had very good macro-economic management, political stability. It's done well in things like agriculture, construction, tourism and so forth and actually it has been an indirect beneficiary of what's happening in Fiji, because many tourists from Australia and New Zealand rather than going to Fiji are ending up in Vanuatu,” Nehru said.

“So it goes to show that if countries do get their acts together, even though they are disadvantaged by distance and size, they can still do well by attracting investment and by attracting tourists and by being able to export.”

Tourism Target on track

Tby Elenoa Baselala

Fiji Times - Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Tourism Fiji is poised to achieve its 600,000 tourist arrival target for this year.

And it hopes that the positive publicity made by overseas media will be able to attract more visitors.

TF chief executive officer Joe Tuamoto said despite falling short of its target last year, they were focused on their marketing this year in their attempt to achieve the target.

Around 540,000 tourists arrived last year.

Recently, an overseas media has highlighted Fiji to be one of the number one international travel destinations for Australian families since it was only four hours away from Sydney.

It said that Fiji offered something for every family and a trip to Fiji doesn't necessarily have to break the budget.

And it specifically mentioned the Warwick Fiji Resort, a haven for families where they can save big bucks on their next family escape where two children from ages two 11 years old, stay, play and for free.

It states that visitors can fly with our national carrier Air Pacific to Nadi and stay six nights for the price of three at Warwick Fiji Resort including full buffet breakfast daily and transfers. The media also highlighted Wakaya as one of the world's top diving spot.

According to them, like most of the best diving the world over, what makes the diving here so special, aside from the occasional visiting live-aboard, was only Wakaya's guests get to dive its pristine reefs.

Setting this reef system apart from so many is not only the startling overall health, but also the combination of both healthy hard and soft corals and then there is marine life proper.

"This is very good publicity for us," he said.

"With all this positive publicity, we are poised to reaching our target."

Tourism Fiji Aims to Boost Tourism Dollar

Fiji Village News - 05 April 2010 Fiji’s Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said some shops are buying goods off shore and then selling them to tourists as a local product. Sayed-Khaiyum said they will soon be unveiling a Buy Fiji made campaign, in an effort to boost tourism dollars and made the announcement when he addressed delegates attending the Ba Provincial Council meeting in Suva last week. He said people feel a sense of loyalty and they know it’s authentic when Fiji made products are purchased and said that some shops are buying goods off shore and then selling them to tourists as a local product. Delegates were told that as much as possible, the government wants the tourism dollar to be spent within Fiji.

Inflation up 8.2%

Fiji Times - Friday, April 02, 2010

THE cost of goods rose in the month of February with the Reserve Bank of Fiji recording an inflation rate of 8.1 per cent.

This compared to the 6.3 per cent in January and 1.9 per cent a year ago.

The central bank said prices had risen by 8.5 per cent since devaluation last April.

"The current year-end inflation forecast is 2.0 per cent but this is expected to be revised upward in light of the impact of Cyclone Tomas on prices of market items.

"In addition, the planned removal of price controls on certain basket items, the weakening of the Fiji dollar against the yen, Australian and the US dollars, higher oil prices and the expected recovery in the domestic sector are expected to add price pressures in the next few months," Governor Sada Reddy said.

By the end of March, the RBF said foreign reserves were over $1billion, which was equivalent to months of imports of goods and non-factor services.

Bank liquidity levels are currently around $294 million.

The Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) index fell over the month to February by 0.2 per cent, indicating a slight depreciation in the Fiji dollar when compared with the major trading partner currencies in the basket.

The negative effects of inflation include a decrease in the real value of money and other monetary items over time. High inflation may lead to shortages of goods if consumers begin hoarding out of concern that prices will increase in the future. Positive effects include a mitigation of economic recessions and debt relief by reducing the real level of debt.

Price rise alarm

Friday, April 02, 2010

ANOTHER price increase for milk, powdered or liquid, will make it even more difficult for struggling families with small children to buy milk for their young.

These were the sentiments of Vidya Wati of Koronivia Road, Nausori who has a four-year-old granddaughter for whom they had to buy milk before a fortnight is over.

The 52-year-old Suva market vendor said the price of milk was already expensive and another increase would make it even harder.

"My granddaughter is four years old and she takes milk every morning and every evening, sometimes during the day too when she cries for it but we have to have her milk there, it is good for her health," Mrs Wati said.

"At present, we are buying powdered milk for $4.50 a packet and sometimes more in other supermarkets, and it is not only milk we have to buy because we have to buy Weet-Bix for her too and even the price of that has gone up," she said. "We earn very little for our livelihood and further increases in the prices of these products will make it harder for us."

The same sentiments were echoed by 27-year-old Lavenia Kaci of Tacirua who has two sons aged two years and eight months respectively. "The price of milk is very expensive but we have to buy for our children so we call on authorities to please consider our plight and the health of our children when making decisions on price increases," Ms Kaci said.

"If there is another increase in the price of milk, we don't know what to do because as it is we are already struggling with today's prices of groceries and that includes milk," she said.

These comments by at least two women follow revelation by Rewa Dairy Cooperative that it is seeking a 60 per cent to 80 per cent increase in the prices of milk and butter if its business was to make profit.