Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Civil Service, Information, and Public Enterprises Hon. Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka,

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Hon. Biman Prasad,

 

Cabinet Ministers,

 

Your Excellences, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

 

Permanent Secretaries and Members of the private sector,

The Chair, Board of Directors and CEO of Investment Fiji,

Event Sponsors and Partners,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bula Vinaka and a very good evening to you all. I am honored and privileged to stand before you, as we celebrate the “Prime Minister’s International Business Awards”.

 

Tonight, we will recognise the exceptional achievements of both large and small businesses and organisations that have consistently demonstrated outstanding business excellence in various sectors – tonight we are celebrating your success and invaluable contributions to Fiji’s thriving economy.

 

 

The Prime Minister’s International Business Awards provides a platform for businesses to benchmark performance and service excellence, inspire innovation, support job creation and above all boost employee morale in achieving more.

 

The journey to this moment has not been easy. It has involved months of brainstorming, hard work and relentless dedication – and, the winners tonight are being positioned as role models in Fiji’s private sector.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Your Government firmly believes that every business regardless of its size has the potential to contribute to our national growth and become leaders in your respective industries. As remarkable businesses, you have aspired to punch above the weight in every aspect of your venture, so I invite you to continue inspiring and motivating other businesses to propel themselves towards excellence.

 

The entrants for tonight’s awards have displayed significant accomplishments in their respective fields and industry sectors. They have displayed the importance of commitment to entrepreneurship, leadership, and social responsibility – a stand out from the rest, striving for uniqueness making meaningful contributions to the development of our communities.

 

This marks the 30th year of the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards, and it brings with it the concept of creativity, a willingness to explore new ways of doing business, and the utilisation of ever-improving technology to our advantage. The number of applications from various businesses and individuals for different categories this year has been overwhelming.

 

I would like to congratulate all the entrants for tonight’s awards on their exceptional achievements, and express our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors and the independent judges who have played a pivotal role in making tonight’s event possible.

 

To the Chair, Board of Directors and CEO of Investment Fiji and the exceptional team at Investment Fiji – thank you for bringing to fruition an event of this magnitude, especially one adorned with prestigious and high-level awards, this is no small feat!

 

Let us take a moment to applaud and express our deepest appreciation to everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we hope that the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards will become an enduring source of inspiration for many businesses, inspiring them to benchmark themselves against the highest standards recognised by these awards.

 

We hope that these awards will add value to your brand and instil confidence in your consumers, as they know you have received the highest business recognition from the Fiji Government and the Honourable Prime Minister himself. Not only that, we are confident that these awards will serve as a source of inspiration, motivating numerous other businesses to embark on a journey to reach this stage and beyond.

 

And now, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce and share with you the remarkable journey of the Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, who was elected as the Prime Minister of Fiji on December 24, 2022. His election marked a historic moment as he became Fiji’s seventh elected Prime Minister and the first to be elected in Parliament.

 

Honourable Rabuka, hails from the village of Drekeniwai in the province of Cakaudrove, and has a rich history of service to Fiji. Born in Cakaudrove, he completed his intermediate education in Bucalevu on the island of Taveuni. His academic journey led him to the prestigious Queen Victoria School (QVS) on Viti Levu, where he excelled in sports and was elected Head Prefect in 1967.

 

His commitment to service extended to the Military, where he retired as Major General after twenty-three years. Honourable Rabuka’s leadership roles included serving as the Commander of the RFMF from 1987 to 1991 and commanding various military units both nationally and internationally, showcasing exceptional bravery in Lebanon in 1980, earning him the distinguished Legion D’Honneur. [Pronounced lee·juhn do·nuh].

 

In addition to his military achievements, Honourable Rabuka holds a Master’s Degree in Military Science from Madras University in India and an Honorary Doctorate from the Central Queensland University. He also represented Fiji in rugby, athletics, and the South Pacific Games, demonstrating his expertise in both sports and leadership.

 

Beyond his military and athletic accomplishments, Honourable Rabuka ventured into politics, serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister, and undertaking various high-profile roles such as the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy in the Solomon Islands and Chairman of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs.

 

Despite political challenges in 2000 and 2006, Honourable Rabuka returned to political leadership in 2018, founding The People’s Alliance in 2021. The party, along with Coalition partners, played a crucial role in Fiji’s national leadership.

 

Honourable Rabuka is a family man, married to retired school teacher Mrs. Sulueti Tuiloma Rabuka. They share a legacy with two daughters, two sons, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

 

In recognising Honourble Rabuka’s extensive contributions to Fiji’s military, sports, and political landscape, we celebrate his dedication to service and leadership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Before I invite the Honourable Prime Minister to deliver his Keynote Address, I want to share a quote from Seth Godin a best-selling author, speaker and former dotcom business executive – “There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them”.

 

Continue to lead by example and make a difference whilst invigorating others. Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank You.