The Directors of Kontiki Growth Fund Ltd (KGF) today announced that the net asset backing per share of the KGF was 44.24 cents per share as at 31 December 2013.
This is an increase of 8.51 per cent over the net asset backing of 40.77 cents per share as at 30 November 2013.
KGF last traded at 29 cents per share. This is a 34 per cent discount to NAV.
— SOUTH PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE

Shaneel Kumar with the support from Vodafone Fiji Foundation, delivered a wheelchair to Shiu Prasad of Nausori.

By MARAIA VULA

Vodafone Fiji Foundation, the charity arm of Vodafone Fiji will this year continuously support initiatives to help the unfortunate.
The latest example was the delivery of a wheelchair to a 79-year-old bed ridden man.
Shiu Prasad of Nausori was overwhelmed when Vodafone IT officer Shaneel Kumar delivered to his doorstop a brand new wheelchair.
“The 79 year old had been bedridden for 5 years after suffering a stroke and his family was unable to afford a wheelchair to aid his movements,” Mr Kumar said.
“It gives immense satisfaction to be able to put a genuine smile on someone’s face. I was glad that I could assist someone who was in need. “
He said the gratification he felt after seeing Shiu smile and moving around was priceless.
He added: “Shiu was all smiles when he was helped on the wheelchair and as he moved around his own compound.
“The family was happy to see Mr. Shiu able to mobilize and step outside his house after a long time.”

Vodafone Fiji
The Vodafone Fiji Foundation was established in March 2004 as a charitable trust to enable the bus and employees to invest some of the profits to the grassroots level.

By RANOBA BAOA

The Fiji Tuna and Boat Owners Association has welcomed Government’s formulation of a separate committee to look into the plight of Fiji tuna industry.
This follows comments by the Minister for Fisheries, Forests and Agriculture Lieutenant-Colonel Inia Seruiratu on Monday.
Lietenant-Colonel Seruiratu said the department was in the process of getting solutions and answers to issues and the Government has formed a committee, after a series of meetings, to look into this number of issues raised.
Lietenant-Colonel Seruiratu said in an earlier report: “We are in the process of getting solutions and answers to issues and the Government has formed a committee, after a series of meetings, to look into this number of issues raised.
“The Government is taking the necessary steps. There are issues on the costs, fees, regulations and systems within the industry.
“Most of these problems have been occurring over the years and probably some were not addressed to the satisfaction of the stakeholders or not at all.
“It has come to a time now where it is critical that we seriously consider the issues.”
Association president, Grahame Southwick said these remarks were welcomed.
“We note with some satisfaction that he (Lieutenant-Colonel Seruiratuhas accepted that we do have a serious Industry problem and that the Government is working with Industry to try and assist where possible,” he said.
“However, if the Minister is being quoted correctly in the article, then  he is being ill advised by his committee, as the reasons given for the demise of the tuna Fishery as he says, primarily external…but they are not.
“Fiji is not on the fringes. We lie smack dab in the centre of the Pacific Albacore fishery.
“Neither is this a ‘migratory’ or ‘weather related’  problem nor does what happens in PNG (Papua New Guinea) has much to do with the problems with the Southern albacore fishery we are involved in.”
He said PNG’s tuna industry and Fiji’s were not connected.
Mr Southwick reiterated the fact of the matter is that the concerns were due to the foreign fishing licensing.
“Our problems are a direct result of gross over fishing by excessive state- subsidised  Asian fishing vessels, fishing legally on the excessive licenses issued by Fiji’s neighbours in the North ,South East and West, and in international waters.”
“If a solution is to be found to these problems and yes they are external and to some extent out of Fiji’s effective control then they must be correctly identified initially.”

Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon is about to join the board of Virgin Australia. Air NZ owns nearly 25pc of the Australian carrier

Auckland: Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon is to take up a seat on the board of Virgin Australia after being invited to join as a director.
The offer was widely expected as part of a A$350 million rights issue completed by Virgin last year in which Air Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Etihad increased their stakes from 62.6 per cent to 67 per cent.
The issue created a furore across the Tasman with Qantas claiming it gives Virgin an unfair advantage and the Australian Shareholders Association saying a cap on smaller retail investors disadvantaged them.
ASA spokesman Stephen Mayne applied to the Takeovers Panel, arguing the equity-raising had been structured to concentrate control of the company in the hands of the foreign airlines.

Stakes
He had sought orders removing the cap for retail investors and blocking Etihad from lifting its stake in Virgin.
But the complaint was rejected in December clearing the way for the capital raising.
The panel concluded that any shortfall would be dispersed effectively between Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines through sub-underwriting arrangements and that the outcome of the entitlement offer would be to maintain substantially the structure of Virgin Australia’s share register. It said the plan was not against the public interest and declined to make a declaration of “unacceptable circumstances”
Air New Zealand’s stake in Virgin is now close to 25 per cent. Air New Zealand said Luxon would take up the seat once the appropriate protocols were in place.
Air New Zealand shares last traded at $1.69 and have risen 36 per cent in the last year.
— NZ Herald

By SHEIK DEAN

The power struggle continues within the Rarawai/Penang Cane Producers Association.
It is hoping a solution is derived following an unannounced audit conducted earlier this month.
Varuku Sector Board delegate, Khalid Ali said an independent auditor from FLO-CERT had concluded audits on the association.
“The representative from FLO-CERT spoke to farmers and sector delegates on the issues raised through the media,” Mr Ali said.
“We are relieved as actions will be taken by stakeholders to solve the issues raised. And appointments made by association president Gyan Singh.
“We do not have funds as we rely on the funds which had been given by the Fair Trade Organisation of $1.4 million channelled to the association but has not benefited the farmers,’’ he said.

More planned funds
It is also believed that apart from the $1.4 million, Fair Trade had also planned on releasing the sum of $2.1 million to the association, which had now been put on hold.
“Farmers are deprived of their rights on the funds and because of the governance issues a number of projects had not been executed,’’ Mr Ali said.
A scheme which was set up by the association last year to pay $100 monthly for life to farmers in the area who were more than 70-years-old, had been suspended.
Mr Ali further said farmers and board delegates were now waiting eagerly for the result of the audit.

About FLO-CERT
FLO-CERT is an international certification company that is owned by Fairtrade International (FLO).
It is autonomous and operates independently. It is responsible for the inspection and certification of producer organisations and traders against Fairtrade standards.
FLO-CERT ensures that producers and traders comply with the FLO International Fairtrade Standards.
It ensures that traders pay the Fairtrade Premium to producers and that producers invest the benefits received through Fairtrade in their development.
Meanwhile, attempts made for a phone interview with Mr Singh yesterday proved futile.

By RANOBA BAOA

The Australian Institute of Company Directors will be organising another Fiji Directors Courses this March.
This follows the success of the first two programmes rolled out last year.
Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Fiji committee chairman Nouzab Fareed, who is also Fijian Holding Group Limited chief executive, stressed the importance of such courses for business leaders’ development.
Mr Fareed, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) said: “We recognise that it’s important that directors and business leaders in Fiji have the opportunity to attend relevant education programs locally.”
The directors course will be attended by leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, he said.
It is suitable for non-executive and executive directors and senior executives, he added.
“The Fiji Directors Course provides a unique opportunity for directors to learn current issues affecting governance and directorship.
“It also provides outstanding opportunities to network with peers from a wide variety of industries and sectors.”
The Australian Institute of Company Directors Fiji Directors Course is designed to provide directors with a comprehensive understanding of their duties and responsibilities.
Also it provides to them the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully govern their organisations.
The courses are being especially developed and facilitated by directors for directors.
It will be conducted over three days at the Holiday Inn, Suva from March 24 to March 26 at cost of $3450 (VIP). Mr Fareed can also be contacted for further details on 330 5017/999 541.

More information
For more information on the program and obtain the registration form, please visit: www.companydirectors.com.au/
With more than 33,000 members, the Australian Institute of Company Directors is the pre-eminent organisation for both current and emerging directors.

Course Outline

q Understand the duties and
responsibilities of a director

q Gain familiarity with
governance and board
meeting processes

q Get a director-oriented
view of governance, finance,
strategy and risk in varying
organisational structures

q Take away easy to read
course materials and tools
you can use immediately

LCT Sigavou having navigated past the Egan Bridge in Sibu on her delivery voyage to Fiji on January 17.

By LEONE CABENATABUA

A Government ship survey team led by Permanent Secretary of Works, Transport and Public Utilities Commander Francis Kean recently returned from conducting final tests and trials of a landing craft in Sibu, Malaysia.
They were accompanied by two Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) surveyors.
Commander Kean said the initial assessment was first conducted in November, last year.
“The landing craft Sigavou is 47metres in length and was built under NK Classification at the Eastern Marine Shipbuilding Yard in Sibu, Malaysia,” he said.
Commander Kean said the Sigavou is a new ship, which was launched in June 2013.
“The Sigavou has a net tonnage of 149 tons and carries on board a 20ft reefer and general cargo container to assist many of our maritime travellers with their respective individual cargoes.
“This latter facility will provide better cargo handling capability, freshness and longevity of cargo and most importantly security.”

Utilisation
He pointed out the Sigavou would be a workhorse for the Government Shipping Services (GSS) fleet.
It would support the over stretched 32m Vatulawa in the implementation of Government infrastructural projects in the maritime islands.
“The Sigavou is also earmarked to play an effective supporting role to NDMO during times of national natural disasters. The Sigavou has a compliment of 10 and can carry a minimum of 15 passengers, which in most cases will be earmarked for workmen for projects in the maritime islands and drivers of vehicles or machinery embarked onboard.”
Commander Kean said the Sigavou under the command of Captain Pauliasi Vakaloloma departed Sibu, Malaysia on Friday, January 17 for Suva via Lae in Papua New Guinea.
“The second landing craft has also been identified in Malaysia. This LCT was launched in July 2013 and is undergoing final works after our initial inspection in November last year and also last week.”

Details
He said the 43m landing craft is also built to NK Class and will be going through her final tests and trials with the classification society in late February or early March.
The ministry will conduct its own final survey in late March prior to delivery.
Commander Kean confirmed that the third ship would be a passenger ferry.
“We hope to take delivery of her in late December or early 2015.
“All three ships built to NK Class are compliant to Fiji’s Ships Registration Decree which should come into force on 5 March, 2014,” he added.

From left: Westpac Fiji Marketing and Communications coordinator Jyoti Maharaj, Gabrielle Weerasinghe, Westpac head of Marketing Nirmala Nambiar and Westpac head of Commerial & Corporate Banking Nirosh Weerasinghe. Photo: WESTPAC FIJI

By AQELA SUSU and
RANOBA BAOA

In a bid to assist local schools who lack library books and help supply the Medical Services Pacific (MSP) Clinic, a trio of major corporates stepped up to lend a hand.
Westpac Fiji, Fiji TV and Basic Industries came together to assist the local community by providing additional library books for the Ministry of Education and medical equipment medical aid facility.
Westpac Head of Corporate and Business, Nirosh Weerasinghe said the donation of books started way back when his wife Gabrielle Weerasinghe went to one school and found out that there were not enough library books for young children.
He said it was one of their paramount objectives to develop the education of the children of Fiji.
“I think for us it is important that we help Fijian children as much as we can as this is also part of the sustainable programme of the three companies, Westpac Fiji, Fiji TV and Basic Industries.”
He said all three companies had a thing in common and that was to be part of the community and support the community as well.
Westpac Fiji, general manager Andrew Hughes said he was grateful to the two other companies for coming forward to help.
This was after Fiji TV and Basic Industries teamed up with the bank to pay the full freight costs of the shipment of the four pellets of books and two pellets of medical equipments from Melbourne to the country.
“We’re very grateful both to Gabrielle for her passionate efforts to help local community, and to Fiji TV and Basic Industries for joining us in assisting with the freight of these supplies,” Mr Hughes said.

By RANOBA BAOA

Fiji Airways will soon have additional services to Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands.
This is in a bid to strengthen its already comprehensive network in the region, a commitment for its Five-Year Strategic Masterplan.
The added Solomon Islands service would also be an added advantage in competition with Air Niugini and Solomon Airlines.
The added service to Tuvalu is also a positive response to the Tuvaluan request for the airline to increase its services there.
Fiji Airways managing director/chief executive Stefan Pichler said the airline’s reason for penetrating into the South Pacific region was part of their key growth target.
“And we will increase capacity to the region,” Mr Pichler assured.
“These two additions to the schedule are part of that plan. The direct Honiara service and an additional Funafuti service will strengthen our already comprehensive regional network.”

Other added services
The airline also announced to have six flights a week between Fiji – Samoa and Fiji – Tonga, and five flights between Fiji and Vanuatu by mid-2014.
“We now connect the Pacific Islands to key long haul markets like United States and Hong Kong on our own network like no other airline does,” he said.
“This presents people of the Pacific increased opportunities for business and leisure travel beyond the region, as well as connect visitors from the United States, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand to these countries.”
He said it provided the added push for businesses and trade to networks through the Nadi International Airport.
“We strongly believe in the growth potential in the South Pacific. Our Five Year Masterplan highlights our commitment and underscores our desire to remain the leading network airline in the region.”

Tuvalu starts from
June 21

q Will operate a third weekly flight on Saturdays between Suva and
Funafuti on June 21.

q Its existing services are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

q Aircraft: Pacific Sun (soon-to-be Fiji Link) ATR 42-500 aircraft.

Solomon Islands starts
from July 5

q Will operate a direct service between Nadi and Honiara on Saturday from July 5.

q Its existing service is Nadi-Port Vila-Honiara on Tuesdays and Saturday direct Nadi-Port Vila services.

q Aircraft: B737-700

By AQELA SUSU

Students studying Tourism at the University of the South Pacific (USP) will now have a comparative tool of learning about statistics and issues faced by the tourism industries.
This was after they were handed the Pacific Regional Tourism and Hospitality Human Resources Development Plan (HRD) yesterday by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.
Organisation Human Resources Development specialist Filipe Tuisawau said the report to the university was a way of assisting lecturers and students at the university.
USP School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Assistant Lecturer, Marika Kuilamu said: “I teach Tourism in the South Pacific and one of the units in this course is Human Resources Development (HRD) so the handing over of this Pacific Regional Tourism Report will really boost the students learning.
“They can now do comparative study on each country in the Pacific that have been a part of the final report of the Pacific Regional Tourism Capacity Building Research that was held back in 2012.”
He said the report also provided recommendations for each country and that the report was relevant to tourism in the Pacific.
Meanwhile, USP School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Acting Head of School, Dr I’lyng Kuo commended the contribution of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation on the report.
She said there was a need for human resource development in the pacific region.

South Pacific Tourism Organisation chief executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI

By MARAIA VULA

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation has identified the need to have a tourism exchange trade show at a regional level.
These were the words of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation chief executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi at a press conference yesterday at the organisation’s head office in Suva.
“We recognise and applaud the initiative taken by Pacific Island countries in promoting their destinations through national trade shows,” he said.
“Having a regional level trade show will compliment rather the initiatives taken at national levels.”
“I am also pleased to announce the organisation’s inaugural South Pacific Tourism Exchange to be held in Auckland, New Zealand from May 22 to 23.”
Auckland was chosen because of its convenience and direct access into the Pacific as well as the event timing was chosen to coincide with New Zealand’s annual Trenz trade show in May.

About the show
The South Pacific Tourism Exchange will be promoted as the region’s largest travel and tourism business to business event.
“We expect to attract the participation of more than 50 international buyers and 16 Pacific Island countries with their respective private sector operators,” Mr Vuidreketi said.
“This event will also see the convergence of international wholesalers/buyers from long haul markets such as Germany, Switzerland, USA and our neighbours Australia and New Zealand.
“As well as the South Pacific product suppliers/sellers such as hotels, resorts, tour operators, rental car companies and airline partners converging in one location.
“These buyers and sellers will be able to connect over targeted 15 minutes business-focused appointments to establish, renew and build business relationships,” he added.
The tourism organisation developed this programme to help facilitate the coordination of a cost effective market place where tourism buyers and sellers can converge to conduct negotiations and meetings.

By RANOBA BAOA

Anita Cheer and Elizabeth Pickering are two of the many micro business vendors who share the same sentiments about Westpac’s ongoing Microfinance Exposition with the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Mrs Cheer, who sells jewelries and accessories, said she started her business with $200 and has seen it grow.
“The Westpac Microfinance Expo has helped me out of my struggles by giving me the opportunity to look forward to run and create exposure for my business,” she said.
“From the numerous markets I’ve attended, I have managed to pay for my eldest sons tertiary education and be able to help my husband in contributing to our family affairs financially.”
This year’s first expo will be held tomorrow at Downtown Boulevard, Ellery Street from 8:30am to 3pm.
Ms Pickering has been selling second-hand clothing and food parcels whenever the event was organised.  She managed to channel the money to help build her a new home which is still under construction.
“I am very happy with the opportunity the bank has given me all this years to become a part of their market,” she said.
“The Night Market especially was a tremendous help because I was able to sell alot of my products and earn a very good income of the few hours given to us to sell our goods.
In earlier report, Westpac Fiji manager Sustainability, Eseta Nadaitavuki, said: “The goals is to have a positive social impact in our local community to achieve these activities such as the Microfinance market and others we have engaged in supporting the goal.”

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority 2013 revenue collection has exceeded all expectations totaling $1.860billion (bn) against the target of $1.852bn.
This is consistent with the latest macroeconomic fundamentals announced in the 2014 Budget.
“The collection was higher than the original forecast by $7.7m and $34.7m over the revised target,” authority chief executive, Jitoko Tikolevu said.
“The 2013 achievement is $118m more than what was collected in 2012.
“The improved performance against the revised forecast signals positive 2014 revenue outlook as the 2013 revised numbers formed the baseline to forecast 2014 revenue levels.”
— FIJI REVENUE AND CUSTOMS AUTHORITY

Source: Trip Advisor

Likuliku Lagoon Resort on Malolo Island in the Mamanucas has been crowned best hotel in Fiji by global website Trip Advisor.
Likuliku is part of the locally owned Rosie Group, headed by managing director Tony Whitton.
The results of TripAdvisor’s annual hotel popularity contest came out yesterday.

Activity on the SPSE electronic trading platform gained momentum this week as the overall capitalisation of the market rose 0.82 per cent concluding at a value of $774,136,128.
The rise in share prices of all four listed stocks witnessing trades resulted in this ascent.
Securities witnessing trades were; the telecommunications giant, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH), supermarket chain, RB Patel Group Limited (RBG), Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) and Pleass Global Limited (PBP).
The largest price gainer for the week was RBG, which saw an increase of 2.46 per cent in its
share price concluding at a new all-time high share price of $2.50.

ATH price ascends
ATH’s share price ascended 1.37 per cent and was followed by PBP and FHL which gained 1.12 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively.
The positive price returns from the listed companies and a dividend return from VB Holdings Limited (VBH) had an upbeat impact on the SPSE Total Return Index (STRI) as well. STRI ended the week 0.84 per cent higher and concluded at a value of 1881.32.
VBH shareholders should expect to receive their share of dividends on January 28.
In terms of overall trading statistics, 26 transactions were recorded for the week as 18,619 shares exchanged hands garnering $45,422 in consideration.
The new order flow for the week was lively as an aggregate consideration of $116,419 was recorded on the e-trading order platform.
— SOUTH PACIFIC
STOCK EXHANGE

Permanent Secretary for Inudustry and Trade Ropate Ligairi (left) and Fiji Crop and Livestock Council chairman Simon Cole. Photo: FIJI CROP AND LIVESTOCK COUNCIL

By RANOBA BAOA

A relationship which began in 2010 has again been reinforced by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties earlier this week.
Council chairman Simon Cole said the agreement would set out the guidelines of how the private sector and the public sector can work towards benefitting farmers.
The council so far has around 6500 farmer-members but anticipates that the remainder of the estimated 30,000 farmers of various commodities and enterprises in Fiji will also be registered.
Mr Cole said one of the most important challenges now is to see that the council attempt to register all of the farmers representing these different commodities or enterprises in Fiji.
“The MOU sets out the guideline of how we can work together for the benefit of the farmers,” Mr Cole said.
He thanked the ministry for its assistance and ongoing support to the council and acknowledged council’s funding agency, International Trade Centre (ITC) for their contribution in helping to develop it.

Government’s setup contribution
Government donated computers to help with council operation when it was initially formed in 2010.  More recently it provided a PABX Phone System and Ricoh Printer.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Ropate Ligairi said: “The ministry encourages the council to discuss issues that need clarification in order to take the agriculture sector forward.”

Simon Cole

Compiled by RANOBA BAOA

Welcome to Hard Talk, where we pose questions to both top executives and budding entrepreneurs on some of the major issues involving business.

The agriculture industry is an extremely difficult industry to understand.
But given the right tools, the right training and the right mindset, it can be the most successful industry in any developing country.
The Fiji Crop & Livestock Council was formed three years ago to work on this and add value to Government’s existing policies and investment opportunities. And the driving force behind this is Council Chairman, Simon Cole.
Being a farmer, and a consultant himself, Mr Cole said that Government has done exceptionally well in contributing to the industry.
But where there is room for excellence there is also room for improvement.
And this is where the council, based in  the private sector, steps in to represent  the issues pertaining 30,000 farmers across the nation.
While the Council has registered about 6500 members, it will , by using a suite of phone base technology,  get word out there they are  a body that can represent the needs and  match up to the demands of the farmers in the country.
The Council office is situated in Walu Street near Marine Drive Lautoka.
Mr Cole, originally from England is qualified in Agriculture Management and Development.
He told Sun Business the realities of the current state of the industry and how Government and all stakeholders can address them to provide efficient and tangible solutions for agricultural growth.
He moved to Fiji in 1983 where he started farming milking cows in Tailevu. He started his consultancy firm, Farm Consultancy Service in 1987. In 1993 he ‘put his money where his mouth was’ and purchased Saha Deo’s piggery at Vuda in Lautoka renaming it  Vuda Piggeries.
Since purchasing the farm output has quadrupled and the farm rebuilt with innovative technology, at a new location on the Vuda Back Road.
This was an investment of over $3 million and has been operating successfully since then.
Mr Cole has a lot to offer industry and one of the most groundbreaking one is the ongoing formulation of a ‘living’ Farm Manual. This is likely to take the industry to a whole new level.
He tells us more in this section.

1. What do you do and why do you do it? I enjoy looking at a farm business and understanding what makes it ‘tick’ what makes it grow, what makes it survive, what makes it competitive, what makes it fail and these are some of the issues that I enjoy working on around the country.
This includes my own business because all of us farmers can get better at we do. We have to get better in what we do if we’re going to survive in this globalised market.

2. Tell us about your business? The piggery farm I run is called Vuda Piggeries and the consultancy I run is called Farm Consultancy Service  which I have operated  since the 80s We have owned   Vuda Piggeries since 93. The consultancy has taken me throughout the region and given me an opportunity to see how other farmers tackle similar problems.
With that background I was elected to be the first Chairman of the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council. The role of the Council is to represent the private sector in agriculture to Government by explaining the business of agriculture.

3. What was the main aim of forming the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council? When Government set up the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council they said they wanted more involvement from the private sector in the developments and the planning of agriculture.
This is to encourage  a joint approach between the private sector and government.
Government has done a lot over the years to support agriculture. They’ve invested in agriculture in big way. They’ve given us tax concession and other services. We believe that a lot more can still be done  for farmers to make the best use of the opportunities available to them. We understand Government wants to have this new look at agriculture with the business side marrying with Government roles and ideas and concepts. And that is exactly what the Council is working towards.
And we can only do that if we represent the farmers. So we have to go back and communicate with our farmers. We have to understand what are the wants and the issues that our farmers have.
This has never been done before. No one has ever collectively represented the farmers in Fiji. The concept came out of a Cabinet paper some years ago written by the then Minister of Agriculture, Joketani Cokanasiga who brought FCLC to the forefront saying that basically Government cannot do this job alone and that it should be assisted  by the private sector.
Government organized a number of industry wide workshops and as a result the Council was formed to answer the call by the farmers. In 2010 we had our first meeting of selected industry representatives.  We started with a small amount of Government funding and we met once every quarter, but there is a limit to what 12 good men and women could do meeting on a quarterly basis. We saw the need to find professional and full-time help so worked to attract the funding required to run the Council on a professional basis. It’s been a slow development but its gaining momentum.

4. Tell us about the membership and why represent them? The Fiji Crop and Livestock Council is made up of commodity associations. There’s the Kava Association, Pig Association, the Root Crop Association, the Salad Crop Association, Food Processors, Goats and Sheep Associations, Dairy Association, Cocoa and Honey and all the commodity association come together under one umbrella.
Each association can operate in its own right however if the issues become national then they can bring it to the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council and we can operate at a different level with the individual associations.

5. What can you say about the financing of the Council and the execution of funds? We’ve been running now for three years. Last year we finally got some funding thorugh ITC (International Trade Centre) from the EU (European Union). The EU is very keen to see the council set up and running and I know Government wants to support this.
We’ll be receiving about $100,000 per year from the ITC and that’s sufficient for us to run an office and to have some people but it doesn’t give us a lot of money to work outside of the so-called office. So we are always on the look out to  make  ourselves useful and become project partners for interested donors.

6. What are some of the programmes in place that can actually help and assist farmers? There are a lot of programmes that are being developed  now that will develop the Council  and IT WILL GROW! It is the voice, we reckon, of 30,000 farmers. This growth will centre around the formation of the associations and our ability to communicate with our farmers and for them to communicate with us.
We have to prove that we are relevant to the farmers and to our donors. We have to sell our skills. Our farmers have knowledge, our farmers know the issue and they know some of the solutions. So it’s getting that knowledge and those solutions into the planning processes.
It’s really early days. We have completed our formal legal structure and have just signed a MOU with Government so it’s still early in terms of this development but it is showing purpose right now. And as we get closer to our farmers many of the problems that had been unstated for years will be much clearer.
When we talk about the membership systems, we’re trying to be very innovative with the way we communicate with farmers by setting up mobile phone applications which mean they can contact us and we can contact them right in the field where they work. Then you don’t have to have a meeting in town which most farmers aren’t able to attend. We plan to contact the farmer and exchange information on subjects like weather, prices, key meetings or product availability. They can contact us and say there’s a problem and what can we do to help.
So we’re trying to work smart and use these innovative technologies.  I firmly believe that the flow of information is very important in terms of the development of agriculture.
We need to be able to get the correct information to farmers so communication and talking to ourselves is very important.

7. How many farmers do you have in the council? We’ve already registered about 6500 farmers in our database, but rather than waving a ‘big stick’ and say I have 30,000 farmers registered with the Council I am more interested in providing the opportunity to communicate. If we are relevant they will register with us. So we have to put out services and systems  to make them want to register with us.  It is now our job is to use what opportunities we have to make ourselves more relevant to farmers and to give them tools and ideas and concepts to that will address their issues and desires to the right people so that they can see their voice is being heard at the highest level in the planning of agriculture.

8. What is one most recent undertaking you managed to convince Government to override their system? In my own industry it is tackling the import of subsidized pork products. The FCLC was very supportive of the pig industry and lobbied against subsidized pork coming in from Canada or Europe. Working with Government we found a solution.

9. You say that it’s still early stages of development for the council but what are some of the things that the council has done so far to give farmers out there the hope that they truly have a voice? q We are pleased Government listened to the issues in the pig industry. As a result of our lobbying we’ve restricted the importation of subsidized meats.
q We’ve worked with Government to reduce duty on all agricultural equipment and inputs. This demonstrates that Government is very supportive of agriculture and is trying to remove all the anomalies in the duty on agriculture. This commitment was expanded and extended in the 2014 budget.
q We’re working with Marketing Development Framework (MDF) on farm rehabilitation on farms like pawpaw farms and other farmers who had been affected since in the two floods in recent year.
q We’re working to develop and become a repository for quality standards for crops like kava.  By establishing a  suitable standard for the quality of our products we should be able to get better markets and prices for the products that we sell
q We are going to set a coordination focus for of all the agencies that are working agriculture in Fiji. There are a number of projects like ITC, SPC, Pardi, the Taiwanese Technical Mission etc. which are heavily involved in this industry. By coordinating their efforts we can develop synergies through co-operation
q As we have discussed above we’re setting up our membership and association structures, we’re setting up our systems that we can use to communicate with farmers.
q We have the opportunity to advocate for farmers in a professional manner. At the moment the dairy industry has an issue that we’re helping to resolve by representing the industry to all stake holders
q I think the most important thing is we’ve managed to set up an establishment. Have full-time workers who will be able to assist farmers.
q We’re talking to Biosecurity Authority of Fiji with regards to maintaining the proper import controls and also on the importation of seeds that are essential for our farmers to grow the best crops. We’ve got farmers who are struggling to get access to seeds.
q Another initiative we’re looking at is insurance for farmers or crop rehabilitation because our farmers were hammered. And this is part of MDF’s work with the pawpaw farmers. We’re going to come up with a mechanism that when farmers are damaged due to natural disasters, whether its disease, whether its weather or market disasters, there’s a sponsor ready and in place.

10. What is your main focus at this point in time? I’m very keen about the Council representation for the farmers; the grassroots farmers. We don’t want to become a high-level lobby group out of touch with our base. We need to see changes because the farmers are not going to support us if nothing happens. This is what happens in the private sector. We need to be able to show to our farmers that we are effective at what we do.

11. Tell us about this Farm Manual which is likely to have a massive impact on commercial farming?  This is probably one of the most exciting assignments we are involved with in Fiji. The Farm Manual is being designed and developed in Fiji and it is based on actual on farm data collected from our farmers.  It will help define exactly what crops are working, what crops are not. More importantly it will allow farmers to identify what better farmers are doing to generate more income.
This manual is not a static manual but is actually a series of interlocking spreadsheets and so, very quickly, just by changing a figure on one column, for instance if the price of fertilizer has gone up, or yields has gone down, it recalculates through the entire spreadsheet. The output is an entire farm plan from technical performance parameters right through to the bankable documents required to get a loan.
It is based on our own data and I think that’s very important. We have to  be honest with ourselves. It will help us to identify the reasons why we fail to achieve what we want to achieve. It will identify and test what one farmer is doing different to another farmer. It provides an opportunity to look and ask the questions in the production of our agricultural produce.
We’re going to make this available to Government and other stakeholders like the Fiji Development Bank. I firmly believe, and this is one of the roles of the Council, that sharing information and learning from the information we share is the way forwards This is what the rest of the world is already doing  and we have to catch up to compete.
We are currently trying to set something up in the dairy industry. This is called a Costing Group, where all farmers from a sector put in their information anonymously into the system and then the system calculates their performance against the average or best farmers in the group. This information is then given back to them so they can see how they compare and see how they can improve.
We’re talking about improving quality, improving price, improving market, improving distribution. But we have to be honest with ourselves about what our production performances are. I think we are often overly optimistic in our planning which sets us up to fail. And the whole point of the manual is not to take the research station figures or the textbook figures for what we would like to achieve  but to go and ask our farmers what they are actually achieving. What are they actually doing? What are the reasons behind what they are doing and they represent that in a planning format.

12. How do you see the road of agriculture at this point where does the council want to take the industry?  I think it’s important for us to recognize what are the threats to  agriculture in this country.  I think one of the biggest threats to agriculture in this country is that we lose our markets to direct import-substitution like rice.   I see us substituting local crops with cheaper but alternative imports for instance using potatoes when dalo is our staple crop. Why are we importing huge quantities of potatoes? I see a threat in not getting the right quality of crop to markets.
We need to focus on the right quality of crop. We cannot always accept that the quality we’ve got here is good enough for the world market.  If we are to grow our exports it is in the globalised markets which are the bigger markets that we have to get it right.   The rest of the world is good at producing for our markets. They have the quality, they have the price, they have improved distribution, they are technically more efficient than us and therefore we have this continuing overseas threat from producers looking to coming to Fiji. And we have to keep pace with that. Those are the issues that I see and what we need to do and what our farmers need to do, to challenge them to go forward.

13. In regards to this what are the challenges and any further comments? Our challenges are food security. We have to be able to feed ourselves and we are quite good in doing that. We need to increase incomes for our farmers. Farmers are not going to think of joining the industry if they cannot earn a good income.  I know Government is worried that people may lose interest in farming as more and more people are not seeing farming as a viable career path. I think that’s a shame. But if we can find the right opportunities farmers are not naïve, farmers know when to invest and when not to invest.
The reality is that we’ve lost some farmers to other industries. So we have to make sure that the income of our farmers goes up. And that means that we have to produce to the price that will allow us to be competitive and earn a good income. We cannot sit here and expect to customers to pay a higher price they will go for cheaper imports.
This is an evolution that needs to take place.  You can’t blame Government for a lack in support in the industry. In fact they have provided some very positive interventions but we need to marry these with the reality of farming in Fiji. The Council can reflect that reality.

Telecom Fiji has this week effected the redundancy exercise which is part of its rescaling and structural rationalisation programme.
This has been part of the Amalgamated Telecommunications Holdings group initiative to ensure that its subsidiaries responds effectively and remain competitive in the current adverse global economic climate.
In doing this, the release said, the company is confident the company it will be better positioned for a stronger growth.
Consultations with employees on the future and direction of the company have been a regular activity over the years.
The management keeps the employees updated of the business results and work with employees on revenue generating initiatives and cost rescaling exercises to manage operational costs.
This has included effective utilization of existing resources, saving power etc and rationalizing OPEX and CAPEX spending.
Around 150 (including those retired at the age of 55) positions will be affected by the end of the restructure programme. This covers all levels and all departments and all divisions and will scale down the company to around 500 staff.
This is part of its targeted $4 million HR saving which equates to 20 per cent savings closer to industry benchmark.
Apart from this, the company is expected to save approximately 10 per cent to 12 per cent on HR related overhead like office space, administration and resources.
Staff exiting the company are paid serverance packages depending on the nature of their employment (contract or non contract) in accordance with the Employment Relations Promulgations.
Furthermore other operational overhead cost reduction like power and costs are targeted at $3.8 million in the coming year.
— SOUTH PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE

Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum speaking at the launch of the Fijian Made Facebook Competition. Photo: JUSTINE MANNAN

By MARAIA VULA

Government is using Facebook to further strengthen the Fijian Made Campaign.
Yesterday it launched a Facebook competition with a grand prize of $1,000 plus 10 smart tablets and other prizes. To enter the contest, visit www.facebook.com/fijianmade.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum officially launched it.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said this competition would not be a one-off when it ends on March 16.
“We hope to have another set of competition where Vodafone Fiji has offered 20 tablets.
“As we are in the first round of competition we are giving out 10 tablets which have generated a lot of interest.”
The competition will runs through a tab on the Fijian Made Facebook page.
Since inception the Fijian Made Facebook page has reached almost 49,000 likes making it the most popular local Facebook page in Fiji.
The submission phase is three week. In order to submit a photo to the contest; you must be a Fijian resident.
Permanent Secretary for Industry and Trade Shaheen Ali said: “Social media is becoming an increasingly important tool for information and communication beyond.
“This is also beyond our borders giving the Fijian Made brand a national as well as an international brand.”
Mr Ali  said the launch of the Fijian Made Facebook Competition was for Fijian residents only.
“The brand was an example for gaining in-roads in the Melanesian and regional markets. Importers from Pacific Island countries take a certain degree of comfort from the Fijian Made logos and in some cases are demanding it,” Mr Ali said.
Overall the Government will continue in its 2014 work programme, to market Fijian Made as a reliable and a value-for-money brand in the local, regional and international markets.

3 simple steps to participate

Buy any product licensed under the Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign and snap a photo of yourself with the product, making sure any one of the eight Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign logos is visible.

Upload your photo through the submission form on Fijian Made Photo Contest tab. The submission period will run from 24 January to 16 February.

Share your photo with your friends to get as many votes as possible.

Voting phases

After 16 February, participants will no longer be able to upload photos and the voting phase will commence.

The first phase of voting on February 17, visitors to the Fijian Made Facebook page will be able to vote once per day on all valid entries.

The first phase of voting will end on 2 March. From this phase, the 30 photos with the most votes will move on to the second and final phase of voting.

There will be a second phase of voting. During the second and final phase of voting, visitors will be able to vote on the finalists from the previous round.

Qantas chief financial officer, Gareth Evans

Sydney: Qantas will not back down from its target of a 65 per cent share of Australia’s domestic aviation market because doing so would be like “waving the white flag”, says chief financial offi cer Gareth Evans.
Investors and analysts have begun to question whether Qantas should maintain such a hard line in the sand on market share given the airline’s weakened financial state amid strong competition from Virgin Australia. In addition, the competition regulator last year began an investigation into potential misuse of market power as a result of the target.
But in an opinion piece published in Friday’s edition of The Age, Mr Evans stridently defends the airline’s strategy, saying that dumping the market-share target would lead to Qantas abandoning its role in regional Australia and betraying the loyalty of its frequent flyers.
“Imagine someone saying Woolworths should start closing stores in response to the threat from Coles,” he said. “Anyone who advocates this kind of approach simply does not understand the way business works. We plan to keep improving and strengthening our competitive advantages.”
Mr Evans said the target was designed to give Qantas customers a market-leading choice of destinations, frequencies and seats at the times when they want to travel.
His comments come as Qantas undertakes a strategic review, in which it could decide to sell assets such as a minority stake in its frequent flyer program or Jetstar. Qantas has forecast it will report a pre-tax loss of up to $300 million in the first half and has flagged plans to slash 1000 jobs and cut $2 billion of spending over the next three years.

Rival Virgin
Rival Virgin has filled its coffers with $350 million, mostly from three major foreign airline shareholders, to help continue its battle against Qantas.
Virgin is now at least 77 per cent foreign owned. Qantas, which is barred from majority foreign ownership, has sought government help to level the playing field.
The government is considering a proposal to provide a standby credit facility backed by a government guarantee for which Qantas would pay a fee. The deal would not
guarantee the airline’s existing debt but it could help return Qantas to an investment grade credit rating by showing it has the government’s backing.
Union leaders have suggested any government assistance should be dependent on the airline using it to fund its Australian operations rather than grow its Jetstar joint ventures in Asia.
Qantas and its partners have yet to receive approval to launch Jetstar Hong Kong. Mr Evans defended Qantas’ investment in Jetstar’s Asia arms, saying the total equity investment to date was less than the outlay on a single A380.
“That’s far less than the inflated figures tossed around by those who would rather scapegoat Jetstar – the same people who seize on any setback experienced by these start-up ventures as the ‘real issue’ facing Qantas,’’ he said. Mr Evans said the value of the airlines was already significantly higher than their foundation capital, which UBS estimates at $270 million.
‘’[The value] will increase as the Asian middle class drives nearly half the world’s air traffic growth over the next 20 years,’’ he said. ‘’It takes breathtaking small-mindedness to dismiss this growth as an ‘Asian distraction’.’’ — Sydney Morning Herald