The Government will be opening a new shipping route in Beqa, Yanuca and Vatulele this month that will operate every two months to increase economic activity and improve the livelihood of the people.
Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya highlighted this in response to SODELPA MP Aseri Radrodro asking the Minister if he can provide an update on the status of the Government’s Shipping Franchise Scheme, in particular to the seven non-economical routes like Northern Vanua Levu, Upper Southern Lau, Lower Southern Lau, Northern Lau, Lomaiviti, Rotuma and Yasayasa Moala.
Koya says this initiative is now known as the Shipping Services Subsidy which is a government-funded initiative that ensures the movement of cargo and passengers between the maritime areas.
He says this scheme covers a total of 70 approved franchise ports in nine franchise routes.
The Minister says all seven uneconomical routes continue to be serviced despite the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the continuity of the service shows the resilience of the shipping sector.
He adds this month they will expand the current shipping services to other routes that are also uneconomical.
Koya says what they are also trying to do is to bundle the uneconomical route with the economical route.
He says what will happen is that the operators will service the economical routes and also the uneconomical routes and if they do not do this they are liable to lose their licenses.
The Minister highlighted that the total number of trips that are undertaken annually is about 168, and the total number of franchises that have been undertaken for the past 5 years is about 792.
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