Hertz Vice President Asia Pacific, Eoin MacNeil,

Centrecom (Fiji) Ltd Managing Director, Anthony Cassar,

Centrecom (Fiji) Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Carol Watkins

The Executive Director of Outsource Fiji, Sagufta Janif,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.

Thank you for availing yourself early this morning for the launch of Centrecom Fiji’s new satellite contact centre operations in Lautoka -making it the 5th Office in Fiji. It is a remarkable achievement that is not only a cause for celebration within Centrecom, but also a moment of pride and optimism for the people of Lautoka and the entire Outsourcing industry.

This new satellite office in Lautoka signifies the tremendous economic opportunities it brings to the Western Division – creating a plethora of job opportunities for the people in Lautoka.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is pleasing to see the Outsourcing industry unquestionably evolving in Fiji. Almost every week, we celebrate the growth and milestones from the industry – from the recent opening of Outsource Fiji’s new office in Suva to launching the Certificate in Contact Centre Operations – Level 3 Programme at FNU. And today, the opening of new office space for one of the most well – established BPO companies in Fiji – Centrecom.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is particularly noteworthy that Centrecom’s Lautoka office is operating at night, catering to new international markets. This expansion not only broadens the horizons of the company but also positions Fiji as the contact centre hub in the region.

Having Centrecom established in Lautoka, it signifies the potential of growing the BPO industry all over Fiji.

With this in mind, the Fiji Government is building the right infrastructure and providing the right training for talent development – hence the launch of the programme last week and Outsource Fiji’s continuous engagement with Skill New Zealand.

Furthermore, Fiji is prioritising its venture to build a second submarine cable landing station in Fiji that is aimed to provide an added layer of redundancy and for BPOs to be disaster risk resilience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This week is the National Budget Debate in Parliament, where the Coalition Government intends to rebuild a new Fiji and create a more conducive environment to reinvigorate private sector – led growth and improve investor trust and confidence.

The Outsourcing Industry remains a priority sector for the Coalition Government as the sector has been allocated funding of $2.5 million. This is the first time such huge allocation and budgetary support has been provided – no other Governments has been able to provide this.

We have introduced and restructured the incentives specifically for ‘Business Process Outsourcing’, ‘Knowledge Process Outsourcing’ and ‘Knowledge Process Outsourcing’ and ‘Shared Services/ Global Business Services’, to name a few – which are aimed to protect Fiji’s BPO industry from fly–by–night operators – that is one of the most important element to ensure that the reputation that Fiji has – risk – diversification is maintained.

So if you look at the holistic view of the entire basket, the Coalition Government is strategically repositioning Fiji as a regional hub. And because of the basket of incentives and assistance available, we are able to attract renown international brands.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Centrecom supports contact centre operations such as the recently recognised as the Skytrax Best Airline in Australia and the Pacific at the 2023 World Airline Awards, Fiji Airways.

It is also pleasing to see that this office is committed to serving Hertz – one of the largest rental car companies in the world, with offices in over 150 countries worldwide – which has chosen to outsource its customer service support to Fiji, through Centrecom.

Having to see such global brands outsource to Fiji shows the potential of Fiji to provide around the clock support to the United Kingdom and US markets. This is a testament to our ability to maintain high standards and meet the demands of our global partners, like Hertz.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ability to serve clients from different time zones demonstrates our adaptability and readiness to meet the demands of the international business community, and therefore, this partnership exemplifies the confidence and trust that international corporations place in the capabilities and potential of our nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish you continued success and growth in the years to come, and I look forward to Centrecom expansion in Vanua Levu as well. I assure you of the Coalition Government’s unwavering support as you contribute to the prosperity of our beloved nation.

Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank you.