The Minister for Sugar industry, Charan Jeath Singh says major changes can be expected in the operations of the Fiji Sugar Corporation - from relying heavily on Government funding into an independent commercial entity.
He says the sugar industry was ailing and its revival was vital for the economy as more than 200,000 Fijians rely on it as a source of income for their families.
Singh says there was a need for FSC to make profit to keep itself afloat, thus a commercial approach would be taken to achieve this. Singh adds they have to make profit, even if they do not make much profit at first, but they do not want Government to keep pouring money into this industry because the sugar industry needs to survive and be afloat on its own.
He says there were a lot of factors that led to the decrease in productivity and revenue from the industry, and there was a need to address this and it would only be possible through working together.
He further says a meeting will be called on January 25th in this regard, where all institutions tied to the sugar industry would meet to discuss solutions and map a way forward.
Singh was accorded a traditional welcome by the management and staff of the FSC Labasa Mill yesterday.
The Minister later met with the Labasa Chamber of Commerce last night as part of his Northern tour.
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