Venue: Grand Pacific Hotel , Suva
Your Execellencies;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a very good evening to all of you.
It is a privilege to be here this evening to launch this magnificent inaugural collaborative Three Dimension Art Exhibition – “Born from Fire”.
This is an exclusively noteworthy occasion as ‘Born from Fire’ is Fiji’s first exhibition of its kind – a unique art exhibition of both collaborative and individual works in metal and glass.
I would like to commend Shane Bower and Alice Hill who have expertly curated this exhibition of stunning contemporary metal and glass sculptural art that reflects and celebrates the beauty of the country. You both have certainly raised the profile of world class artwork, especially 3 Dimensional Art made in Fiji.
It certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park for the both of you. I have been informed that you have spent over six months, working on collaborative pieces, which are on display for the first time, along with a range of your own individual work. It must have been a challenge but enjoyable journey to put this exhibition together, visiting each other’s studios (Imagination in Metal and Hot Glass Fiji) and creating the initial concepts before bringing them to life.
Furthermore, you have both been stimulated by the chance of bringing a different dimension to your work by combining with another artist and another medium, and the finished pieces which we see here today are dramatic and striking – works that would already have been beautiful in one material alone, but amazingly stunning when in combination with each other.
At this juncture, I am happy to mention that Hot Glass Fiji, who is a proud member of the Fijian Made-Buy Fijian family, has been producing glass sculptural products for the past four years and trained local staff to become world class glass blowers.
Like Hot Glass Fiji, Fijian businesses have realized the importance of carrying Fijian made mark on their products – it is a mark not just recognized locally but also by our Pacific neighbors, who look for the Fijian Made mark on products from Fiji. .
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Fijian Made-Buy Fijian campaign, like many other pro-growth policy initiatives of the Fijian Government, – is for all Fijians, – to create a resilient and strong economy from within.
Over the years, 418 companies have joined the campaign and over 1,590 products have been licensed. This is not limited to large businesses, but includes a number of small and medium enterprises. This initiative has given a platform to micro enterprises and special recognition to our local talents.
From the 418 companies that have joined the campaign, there are 86 enterprises representing Fijian Made, which includes Hot Glass Fiji.
Furthermore, under the Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture will launch the Fijian Organic brand in a month’s time.
The Fijian Organic brand will provide premium prices for our exports, ignite our youth to take up organic farming, promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming methods that reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and promote healthier lifestyles to combat NCDs.
Ladies and Gentlemen
We have proven that any Fijian made product is of high quality and standards, and we are positioning ourselves to compete in the global market on quality, standards and international best practices.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Youth in Fiji are an integral part of policy development. Hence, in its effort to provide additional alternative sources of livelihood by inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship amongst our young people, the Fijian Government had established targeted income generation programmes, such as the Integrated Human Resources Development Programme (IHRDP), in areas such as beekeeping, root crop and ginger farming, fisheries, marineculture and aquaculture, to name a few.
The Young Entrepreneurship Scheme or YES is the newest initiative of the Fijian Government. The YES is an initiative targeting the development of the MSME sector. It is intended to promote and harness the talents of young Fijian entrepreneurs, to become ‘job creators’ rather than be fated to being ‘job seekers’.
Grants of up to a maximum of $20,000, will be given to successful young budding Fijian entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30 years, to develop or expand their innovative business ideas.
Eight accomplished professionals from the private sector, with significant experience and business acumen, have agreed to partner with the Government to steer this exciting initiative.
In addition, the Ministry has also confirmed 11 private sector organisations, thus far, to run a business mentoring programme for these young entrepreneurs.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Awareness of this initiative is crucial to expand outreach to all young people across the nation. In the next few weeks, the Ministry will embark on an awareness programme that will inform youth groups and vocational/ university students about the YES. Hopefully, the awareness will educate and empower them to put their innovative ideas into proposals.
You can lodge your application on the YES website (www.yes. gov.fj). One can easily access information or ask questions about the YES or even to lodge one’s proposal.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I wish to reiterate that this Government does not and will not leave any Fijian behind.
Coming back to today’s event, I once again congratulate Shane Bower and Alice Hill on a milestone achievement and I urge you all – aspiring artists, craftspeople, our youth and members of the public to come to the exhibition.
The Exhibition will be open to the public for ten days with a number of guided tours organized, explaining the materials, method and inspiration behind the work, given that one of the goals is to pave the way for future high profile collaborative exhibitions of work by local artists. So do come along and enjoy Fiji’s first ever metal and glass exhibition.
With those words, it gives me great pleasure to officially open the Three Dimensional Art Exhibition – ‘Born from Fire’. Have an enjoyable evening and a Happy Diwali to you all.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.