Traditional methods have served us well but we must innovate or risk being left behind - Chair Yatu Lau Company

Traditional methods have served us well, but in today's competitive global market, we must innovate or risk being left behind.

This the message shared by the Chair of Yatu Lau Company Viliame Leqa while opening the first-day of the Resource Owners Forum at Harbour Point in Lami.

He says this does not mean abandoning our traditions, rather, it means integrating them with new technologies and ideas to create a robust and resilient economy.

Leqa urges the resource owners to please consider agriculture as modern farming techniques, organic certifications and value-added products can significantly increase our market value.

He adds in fisheries, sustainable practices and advanced agriculture can ensure long-term productivity and environmental balance.

The Chair says for those in the tourism sector, developing unique cultural and eco-tourism experiences can attract visitors from around the world, providing steady income streams while preserving our natural beauty and heritage.

Leqa says at Lau Company Limited, they have embraced innovation and partnerships and are diversifying their portfolio and adopting digital technologies to streamline their operations.

He says these changes have not only improved their profitability, but also their sustainability and resilience in the face of economic shifts.

He reminded the resource owners that our strength lies in unity.

Leqa says as resource holders, we are not competitors, but partners in a shared journey towards prosperity.

He adds by collaborating, sharing knowledge and supporting one another, we can amplify our impact and achieve far more than we could individually.

The Chair says let's create cooperatives, form alliances and build networks, and allow us to leverage our collective strengths.

He says together, we can negotiate better deals, access larger markets, and influence policy decisions that favour our interests.

Leqa says according to recent studies, nations that efficiently utilize their natural resources experience significant economic growth and improvement in citizens' quality of life.

He adds we, as resource owners, are in a private position to capitalize on this achievement and the Fiji government has notorious various assistance programs, grants, and incentives designed to support the sustainable development of our country.

The Chair says relating to our resources in the past and even now, these opportunities are strategic investments in our future.

He says we cannot ask for more because government also has other priorities and we must make use of whatever is available.