$90 million investment to boost Laqere Market area as Nasinu eyes city status by 2030

A major $90 million commercial development is underway near Laqere Market in Nasinu, marking a significant turning point for the township as it sets its sights on achieving city status by 2030.

While speaking to fijivillage News, CEO of the Nasinu Town Council, Felix Magnus confirmed that four major investors — A. Hussain, Grace Road, Vision Group, and RB Patel Group — have agreed to invest in transforming the Laqere area.

He says the push for development comes after challenges emerged following the opening of Laqere Market, which had initially failed to attract sufficient foot traffic.

Magnus says when Laqere Market was first built, no feasibility study was carried out, and this proved harmful for vendors as people were not coming in to buy their produce.

He says that to tackle this issue, the council carried out a detailed feasibility study in 2024, identified the area's shortcomings, and actively engaged with investors to address those gaps.

The CEO says the approved developments include a large-scale warehouse for the A. Hussain Group, and a mixed-use commercial complex featuring a supermarket and retail outlets for Grace Road.

He says in addition, Vision Group is set to establish the largest showroom in the area, while RB Patel Group has plans for a cluster of retail outlets and a service station.

Magnus says the physical transformation is already having a visible impact, with vendors reporting increased foot traffic and sales.

He emphasized that the Laqere development is just one piece of a broader urban strategy being pursued by the Nasinu Town Council.

He says they already have the infrastructure and the population—what they need now is the economy.

He says they want the people in Nasinu to work in Nasinu and spend in Nasinu.

He adds that the developments near Laqere Market are expected to be completed by next August.