The Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation and Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association on Gorrie Street, Suva. Photo: Rama
RANOBA BAOA
Suva
The building belonging to Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association will soon be undergoing a $2 million facelift.
This follows upgrading plans to turn the single-storey building to a two-storey one which were announced in recent times.
Contracting bids
In light of this, the secretariats have called for an Expression of Interest for the purchase and removal of its office on 42 Gorrie Street by first quarter end.
Federation chief executive, Nesbitt Hazelman said while it had taken quite some time to finalise the project, he was confident that the $2 million project was now underway.
“It has been discussed by numerous boards for the past ten years. It’s not a new project as we just had to fine-tune the issues that were involved in the actual building,” Mr Hazelman.
“Under the leadership of Mr Howard Politini, we’ve finally come to the decision to actually revamp the secretariat and also our partners next door Fiji Tourism and Hotel Association.”
The investment, he said, was on behalf of the private sector and reflects the quality of both secretariats’ membership.
“It also reflects the quality of the work that we do in Fiji in supporting private sector development.”
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto shared the same sentiments.
“In our view it will be a very functional building and will house more services for our association as well as the federation,” Mr Seeto said.
Temporary tenancy
Meanwhile, both secretariats have just signed a tenancy agreement in neighbouring Ratu Cakabou Road where they will move to the old FASANOC building.
Mr Hazelman said: “This is our last month and we hope to have it demolished and removed after which our architects and engineers ready the site and prepare it for building.”
Mr Hazelman added they expect to finish the face lift come February next year.
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