By RANOBA BAOA
Attorney-General and Minister for Public Enterprises, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (second front left), with staff of United Containers (Fiji) Limited during the opening of the company’s depot in Lami yesterday. Photo: JONA KONATACI
The opening of a third United Containers (Fiji) Limited depot, this one in Suvavou, sends a strong signal of the company’s willingness to work with the shipping industry.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Public Enterprises Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made these comments while highlighting positive results of the partnership between Fijian and New Zealand companies.
He was also referring to the recent acquisition of 51 per cent shares in Ports Terminal Limited by Sri Lankan firm, Aitken Spence.
“To have the Suvavou Depot opening now, in fact, does not only send a signal to them saying that Suva in Fiji is ready to collaborate with them,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum noted.
“It also gives impetus to the entire shipping industry that the capacity is available locally and I think it gives a very strong signal.”
The depot is a result of the joint business between the Hong-Tiy family-owned business Shipping Service (Fiji) Limited and United Containers (Fiji) Limited.
United Containers (Fiji) Limited is the local business arm of New Zealand-based United Container Limited.
This is the largest depot the company has opened, the first one in Walu Bay and a second in Lautoka.
Facilitating ventures
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said that it is with confidence that Government has put in place initiatives to facilitate such ventures.
“The confidence obviously is built upon the faith that the Bainimarama Government has put in place a number of policy initiatives and indeed incentives to assist the private sector to venture out into such areas,” he said.
“By providing services, whether it’s shipping services, whether it’s the marine industry or indeed whether it’s the overall transport industry.”
Keeping up with changing times
Given the shipping industry’s evolving nature, United Containers Fiji Limited and Suva Container Parks chairman, Stuart Ferguson, highlighted the technological initiatives done to build the depot.
“It is the most technologically-advanced in the sense that we haven’t just simply inherited an old piece of ground where we have thrown some gravel onto,” Mr Ferguson said.
“This one is being purpose-built, designed and it’s been engineered to last a long time.
“It is very difficult to keep up with the demands of this particular industry because it’s changing all the time.”