Quantcast
Channel: Fiji Sun » Leaders Talk
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 13

LEADERS TALK: What Measures Should Be Taken To Improve Our Port services?

$
0
0

Fiji Ports Corporation, a state-owned enterprise manages the two major ports of Suva and Lautoka and the secondary ports of Levuka, Vuda, Malau, Rotuma and Wairiki.

As Fiji is strategically located in the centre of the South Pacific region, our ports, particularly Suva, have an ever increasing role and responsibility.

These responsibilities not only benefit the country but also other countries of the region, making us the strategic regional hub in terms of shipping and transhipment.

Throughout the years, our ports have been in transition to keep up with the global standards.

Looking back, a milestone event occurred in 2013 when Aitken Spence PLC, a prominent Sri Lankan conglomerate, was appointed to be part of the Private Public Partnership (PPP).

The two companies joined forces in Fiji Ports Corporation’s subsidiary Fiji Ports Terminal Limited – to bring international best practice and efficiencies to the ports of Suva and Lautoka.

Having an efficient port is a basic need for any country. The ports of Suva and Lautoka are strategically placed installations.

Having an efficient port would be able to attract more vessels to call at these ports as well as make these ports a transhipment hub.

The objective is to progressively and continuously upgrade our port facilities and services for the benefit of customers by ensuring a continuing improvement in productivity and efficiency levels.

This week we ask our leaders:

 

Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Industry Trade and Tourism

To improve port services, the response that we get from the services guys have improved so much that it makes their lives easier with import and export. Government is on a mission to improve the port services in Fiji already so it’s not about ‘what can we do’ because it’s already started.”

 

Hasmukh Patel, Fiji Ports Terminal Limited Board  Chaiman

Fiji is blessed with a strategic geographical location in the South Pacific region which has contributed significantly towards attracting business to our ports.

To further improve the port services it is imperative that the ports have the right infrastructure facilities and equipment to better service the domestic and international customers. However, I strongly believe that the key to success is to create a positive attitude amongst the port employees to transform Fiji ports to a more service oriented organization and also, to create a target based working environment to improve the port efficiency to deliver quality services to its customers.”

 

Shaheen Ali, Permanent Secretary for Industry & Trade

As the Permanent Secretary for public enterprise, the way to improve our ports services is to invite credible, international creditable and competent partners to invest in this sector and provide capital as well as expertise to take our ports services to the next level. We want to capitalize on our geographical advantage to really become the harbor of the pacific region.”

 

Vajira Piyasena, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited chief executive officer

In our area of responsibility more towards the Port development and also looking at we have started intensive dredging program to keep the harbor open and things like that. We are also in the process of developing the master plan for Fiji Port Corporation Limited which will be looking at other development as well

Feedback: stella.moresio@fijisun.com.fj

 

 

 

 


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 13

Trending Articles