Venue: NAMAKA , Nadi
The General Manager;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.
I am indeed delighted to join you this afternoon to officiate at the Go Fiji Local & AAAK Workshop Launch.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The launch today is the confidence you have in Nadi and in the Fijian economy as a whole. The Fijian economy has been enjoying 7 consecutive years, which is the longest period of steady growth that Fiji has ever experienced.
This has been the result of pro-growth and robust policies of the Fijian Government. The Government’s focus has not been only on foreign investments but also on the domestic investors. The domestic investors are the ones that continue to invest in Fiji.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is a buzz in the air – a sense of optimism, confidence, demand for services, new investment, creation of new jobs and of course this expectation will continue, as the Fijian Government continues to deliver.
The Fijian Government has set about to create the right climate for new investment – with consistent policies, a sound and determined economic direction, focus on service delivery, modernizing our outlook and infrastructure and of course connecting us all to new technology. These coupled with the various concessions and incentives are clearly paying dividends.
Furthermore, Government regards the private sector as a vital partner in national development and the provision of better living standards for all Fijians. So I would like to thank Go Local Fiji and AAAK Group of companies, for the investment that it has made in this new workshop and the jobs it is generating for our people.
Ladies and Gentlemen
AAAK was established by Director Aslam Khan in 2000 where he established Taxi 2000 which currently has 30 vehicles. The company was taken over by his son Azeem Khan, an accountant by profession who returned to Fiji in 2013 and continued with the investment looking at sustainable economic growth.
The establishment of AAAK Rentals in 2013 saw 13 rentals in their fleet. The company also acquired a property at Nasilivata Road near Namaka Public School last year from Great Designs which houses their headquarters and new workshop, which is worth over a $1million. In 2015 Azeem got involved in Transfers and Tour business as he saw great potential in Tourism in Fiji.
In 2016, they opened up spare part shop and this year, they opened a fully equipped mechanical workshop. The company has imported three new coaches from China worth $750,000.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I have great confidence in the ability of such home grown businesses to prosper even more. With those words, I now have great pleasure in launching this workshop.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you.