Business
4th April
Grounded planes insured for more than $160 billion – report
LONDON (Reuters) – Aeroplanes with a total insured value of more than $160 billion are grounded around the world, presenting risks for insurers, a report said on Friday. Singapore has the largest number of planes...
3rd April
COVID-19: Fijian civil service implements work-from-home for Government
Work-from-home (WFH) arrangements are now being implemented by the Ministry of Civil Service for the whole of Government. In a statement issued this evening, the Government stated this was to ensure civil servants were compliant with the COVID-19 measures enacted by the Fijian Government. “The Fijian Government announced the Work-from-home Guidelines for Civil Servants on...
COVID-19: Post Fiji focuses on other revenue options
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted Post Fiji’s focus from its usual service to other various options to maintain its revenue line and sustain its business. Post Fiji CEO Dr Anirudha Bansod told a press conference today that its postal revenue had substantially dropped, which was expected as the entire EMS and international parcels had stopped...
COVID-19: Municipal councils decentralise main central markets
Fiji’s 13 municipal councils are decentralising the main central markets in their municipalities to deal with issues of overcrowding and the lack of physical distancing of buyers during this COVID-19 crisis period. Local Government Minister Premila Kumar said the decentralised markets would be opened in suburbs, parks and other areas to give options to consumers...
COVID-19: Fiji Link suspends Nadi and Suva flights
All scheduled Fiji Link flights between Nadi and Suva for today are suspended. Fiji Airways managing director Andre Viljoen said the suspension was a result of the lockdown of the capital city announced yesterday. “Scheduled Fiji Link services are no longer available,” Mr Viljoen said in a statement issued today. “As with other flight suspensions, impacted...
COVID-19: Two salons close shop; Staff to self-quarantine
Jade Fiji’s outlet located at the MHCC complex and the Supercuts outlet at Damodar City have closed shop. The couple who were confirmed of having COVID-19 as announced yesterday was working for the two companies. Jade Fiji confirmed via its Facebook Page of the closure of its MHCC branch, and a staff member of Supercuts...
COVID-19: Patterson Shipping passengers to Labasa advised to contact helpline
Fijians who travelled to Nabouwalu, Bua, from Natovi on the Patterson Shipping ferry last Friday are advised to urgently contact the Northern Division COVID-19 helpline. It is understood that a person of interest who had a travel history to India was on the same ferry. These passengers can contact the Northern Division COVID-19 helpline on...
COVID-19: Navua service station feels the impact
A number of businesses in Navua are expected to be affected because of the lockdown of the greater Suva area in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. One such business is the fuel business. Ravin Singh has been working at Rajeevs service station for nearly a decade now. He said vehicles would usually come in...
2nd April
COVID-19: FNPF assistance extends to Suva lockdown zone
Members of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) working within the perimeters of the Suva lockdown area, and those whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, now qualify to apply for assistance. This means the same arrangement implemented for the Lautoka COVID-19 lockdown zone now applied to FNPF working members in the Suva-Nausori...
Impact on cash flow, liquidity
THE impact of coronavirus on public life and the economies in Fiji and Vanuatu are expected to affect the overall operations of FijiCare Insurance Ltd and the group including its liquidity and cash flows for 2020 financial year. A market announcement sent by the company yesterday stated that while this was expected to have a...
COVID-19: FNPF members unemployed for last six months eligible to withdraw funds
Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) members who have been unemployed for the last six months are now also eligible to withdraw funds from their accounts. The announcement was made by Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum this afternoon. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said those workers might not have been unemployed for some reasons apart from COVID-19, but...
COVID-19: HFC waives bank statement fee
HFC Bank has removed its fee for bank statements for those that require this document for assistance from the Fiji National Provident Fund in light of the present COVID-19 pandemic. The bank initially charged a $3 fee for a page of the bank statement. General Manager Operations and Transformation Admond Chandra this evening said HFC...
COVID-19: Essential businesses to remain open during lockdown
Essential businesses will remain open during the lockdown period which starts in Suva, Fiji, tomorrow. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced the list at a press conference today. ☑️ Air and rescue services ☑️Air traffic control services, civil aviation ☑️Telecommunication services ☑️ Food and sanitary manufacturing plants ☑️Electricity services ☑️Emergency services, fire services, health and hospital...
COVID-19: Charges for bank statements
Those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji and are planning to seek assistance from the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) are required to submit a bank statement. Fiji Times Online called six major banks in Suva to enquire how much a bank statement cost. So for those who will be needing these statements, below...
1st April
BSP Bank’s capital position remains strong – Chairman
BANK of South Pacific’s capital positions remains strong and exceeds Bank of Papua New Guinea and other Pacific regulatory requirements, says bank’s board chairman Sir Kostas Constantinou. Sir Kostassaid the system liquidity in every country that BSP operated in remained strong. “Continuing to review and update our business continuity plans to ensure that BSP has...
COVID-19: Consumers urged to avoid lingering in supermarkets
Consumers are urged to avoid lingering in supermarkets as a safety measure against the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Seema Shandil said while it was understandable that many consumers would have to shop for provisions and food, it was advisable that they created a shopping list to ensure they did not spend extended...
Farmers to receive third cane payment
Sugar cane farmers will receive $11 per ton of cane-payment tomorrow. This will be the third cane payment for the 2019 season and will bring the growers a total to $61.53 per ton of cane out of the $85 per ton guaranteed by the Government. Farmers are advised to pick up their invoices from their...
COVID-19: Lockdown should not affect supply of produce – Minister
The lockdown of Lautoka should not affect the supply of the agricultural produce to the area, says Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy. At a press conference in the past hour, he said staff at the ministry had gone out as far as Suva to source supply of produce for the Lautoka area. “The lockdown...
COVID-19: Government services will not be reduced – A-G
Government services to members of the public will not be reduced. This was assured by Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Service Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while announcing the Civil Servants Work From Home Programme yesterday. The A-G said that the Government had a broader definition of essential as provided for in the Employment Relations Act. “Our...
flydubai to reduce staff pay for three months due to coronavirus
DUBAI (Reuters) – United Arab Emirates carrier flydubai will reduce pay for its employees for three months from April due to the impact of the global coronavirus crisis on its business, a spokeswoman said on Monday. Airlines around the world have been hammered by the outbreak that has virtually halted international travel. Flydubai has suspended...
31st March
COVID-19: Telecom customers to receive double data
TELECOM Fiji residential and business customers will receive double data from tomorrow as part of the telecommunication service provider’s COVID-19 relief package. All remote customers will instead receive free calls to all Telecom numbers and designated helpline numbers (including Vodafone and Digicel helpline numbers) from all maritime and remote communities, schools and government stations using...
COVID-19: Fijians urged to exhaust other options first
THE COVID-19 assistance will only be focused on companies, individuals and areas that have been identified by Government, says Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) chief executive officer Jaoji Koroi. At this stage, assistance to Fijians who have also lost their employment outside of the identified areas is unclear. Mr Koroi said the fund had emailed...
COVID-19: Bank to announce enhanced relief package soon
THE Westpac Bank is in the process of finalising its enhanced assistance package, adjusting it to incorporate the measures announced by Government. A spokesperson from the bank yesterday said the bank would share the information with customers shortly. In response to questions on whether customers will have access to Westpac’s hardship assistance packages, the bank...
COVID-19: Town feels impact
THE Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Nadi is already feeling the brunt of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that some businesses may not survive for long. Chamber president Dr Ram Raju welcomed the tax incentives for businesses which would allow them to continue to employ their staff members and the economy rolling. “Tax breaks, deferment...
Fiji’s central bank forecasts recession in domestic economy
After almost a decade of economic growth, Fiji’s central bank has forecast the domestic economy to fall into a recession. The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) released its economic review for March, which stated that the magnitude of the contraction would depend on how long the pandemic would last and the extent of local contagion....
COVID-19: Fiji Airways operate recovery flight
Fiji Airways today flew a recovery flight between Nadi and Brisbane. Australians who were stuck in Fiji left the country on the morning flight and Fijians who were in Australia are coming back home on the return flight. A video released by Fiji Airways showed airline staff bidding the departing passengers farewell. All the incoming...
Farmers introduced to ‘Cigar Box’ investment tool
Some 50 participants who were part of a week-long workshop earlier this month were introduced to an innovative investment appraisal tool called ‘Cigar Box’. Facilitated by the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC) and supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Netherlands, and the Fiji Government through the Ministry of Agriculture...
COVID-19: Market operating hours reviewed
Fiji’s Ministry of Local Government has advised of the new market operating hours in light of the nationwide curfew in place as the country continues to take precautionary measures amid COVID-19. In a Government statement released today, Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar said all market opening and closing hours had been reviewed and markets...
30th March
Commission responds to COVID-19 budget
THE Fijian government’s COVID-19 response budget does contain some measures aimed at stimulating economic activity with a number of investment subsidies and measures aimed at stemming this loss. In response to questions on the COVID-19 response budget, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission stated that the balance had shifted dramatically towards the pandemic given the...
$1million investment in rice production
FIJI Rice Ltd will invest $1 million of its own funds in massive rice production and is looking at providing loans to rice farmers and those companies who intend to go into commercial rice farming. Chairman of Fiji Rice Ltd, Copra Millers Fiji Ltd and Food Processors Fiji Ltd, Raj Sharma said details of this...
