Location:Navua
President of Grace Road Group, Mr. Daniel Kim,
Country Manager Mobil, Mr. Adi Tamara,
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka, and a very good afternoon to you all.
It gives me great pleasure to join you today to be part of this inaugural of the world-class state-of-the-art service station, which will serve not only the people of this community and province of Serua but also all those who will be travelling through the Queens Highway.
Ladies and gentlemen,
These facilities are a result of hard-work and partnership between GR Group, ExxonMobil and the local community and stakeholders.
The GR Group started its operations in Fiji in May 2014, and since then it has expanded to eight companies under the GR Group banner.
First, the company invested in the agricultural sector by establishing the largest rice processing complex in the South Pacific and largest rice farming area in Navua.
It is also impressive to note that the GR Group has invested in over 2 hectares of greenhouse areas in order to produce vegetables using the latest hydroponics technology consistently throughout the year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
From farms throughout Fiji, over 1000 acres in total, the GR Group grows rice and over 20 types of vegetables. These also includes fruits such as pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, banana, mango, noni, and lime. The GR Group supplies these produce to the leading restaurants, resorts, hotels, and supermarkets throughout Fiji. Their dairy farm in Navua produces milk for mozzarella cheese and yogurt production.
Recently the GR Group have started to export cassava and papaya to New Zealand and is planning to expand to other international markets, which is commendable.
The GR Group is working with stakeholders in achieving food security and self-sufficiency and to assist in reducing food import bill and trade deficit. Their achievements are praiseworthy and the GR Group has lifted the game as far as providing Fijians with quality service and products.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Apart from the agricultural sector, the GR Group has been building its reputation in the construction industry and has been delivering successfully major projects consistently. Additionally, the GR Group operates the largest restaurant chain in Fiji with over 40 outlets across different brands in Fiji; Fierce Chicken, Sunny Pizza, Grace Kitchen, Snowy House and Patisserie Pacifica to name a few brands. The Group also operates retail stores such as True Value, Missha and Bata.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Grace Road Group has now ventured in their first commercial center in Navua as the “Grace Field Navua”. The first stage of this new venture is the Mobil Service Station which we are witnessing the officially opening here today. The Navua service station will provide a one-stop convenience for fuel, rest, meals and shopping for the Serua province and to all of those who will be travelling this Queens-road.
As part of the project, GR Group has invested and improved heavily the surrounding roads, the drainage, and two bus-stops for the local community. In conjunction with the beautiful landscape of the site, Grace Field Navua will become a regional landmark. At the same time, it will contribute to the local economy and provide employment opportunities, retail convenience and the community space. It will also provide our tourist visiting Pacific Harbour an option for eatery and retail.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This investment is very timely, given that the Fijian government is currently undertaking a number of reforms, which includes of the review of current Foreign Investment Act. The new “Investment Act” once in place will allow for streamlining of a number of processes, eliminate the difference between the domestic and foreign investors and accord internationally recognised rights such as the Most Favored Nation and the National Treatment.
The new Investment Law, as with the current Law, will place obligations on the Investor to abide and follow laws of Fiji.
On the same note, the Fijian Government with World Bank Group/IFC and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise also is re-aligning the processes related to Ease of Doing Business – starting from getting a business license, obtaining construction permits and trading across borders.
Under the digitalFIJI banner, “bizFIJI”, was launched earlier this year. This is centralised website for business owners and investors, both local and foreign for information on Starting a Business and Obtaining Construction Permits, and will in near future serve as a single information platform for all doing business needs.
Coming back to today’s event, I would like to warmly congratulate to the GR Group, ExxonMobil and all the stakeholders for this significant investment in Navua, these wonderful facilities, which I am sure Fijians will enjoy.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.