Radical reforms have been announced today in the ports sector with an internationally known publicly listed Sri Lankan company, Aitkens Spence Maritime taking up 51 percent of the shares in Fiji Ports Terminal Limited.
This sees a joint venture between Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and Aitken Spence which purchased 51 percent of the shares of Ports Terminal at a price of $10.53 million.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said this will benefit the people of Fiji as an efficient port will result in reduction in the prices of imported goods.
He said this would also create more jobs.
Commodore Bainimarama said a lot has to be done at the ports in Suva and Lautoka.
Chairman of Aitkens Spence Maritime, Parakarama Dissanayake said they are ready to lift the services at the Suva and Lautoka ports but he admitted that a lot of work has to be done in phases.
Commodore Bainimarama said for ordinary Fijians, the goods we import get cheaper because shipping charges fall, and at the same time efficiency will boost exports which will result in more employment.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Prasheel Chandra
Feature
Radical reforms announced in the ports sector
