Fiji to use Indian sugar tech for revamp

Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase said Fiji was looking at increased investments from India in agro-processing, IT and tourism.

Participating in a meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) here on Thursday, Qarase said that there were many areas in which the two countries could work.

He informed that Fiji was looking at securing machinery to modernise its sugar mills along the lines of India's modern sugar mills, so that sugar can be produced cheaper.

The Fiji government and the Asian Development Bank have developed a reform plan to bail out the country's ailing sugar industry. For this the government of Fiji has requested the 'sugar technology mission' of India to make recommendations for its revival, he said.

The meeting was attended by leading exporters of Karnataka representing various sectors such as software, engineering, garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and leather. As desired by the Qarase, FIEO decided to send a fact finding three member delegation to Fiji during January 2006 and a multi product business delegation with large contingent of Indian businessmen during May, 2006.

On Friday, Qarase, entrusted with the responsibility of reforming of Fiji's sugar industry, visited the Bannari Amman Sugar factory, near Nanjangud, about 20 kms from Mysore.

He spent about half a day on Friday at the factory. He visited the sugar unit, electrical unit, distillery, bio-composite yard and planted a sampling in the premises. Qarase is here on a two-day visit focussed on IT and BT sectors.