The Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made a submission to Government to look at investing in night landing facilities at Labasa Airport.

This is part of the chamber’s submission for the 2017 National Budget which will be announced on June 22.

President Satish Kumar said their submissions also include a road upgrade request, investing in international port of entry, and building more factories.

“The reason we are again pushing on for these things is because it has been many years we have been asking,” he said.

“We believe if these things are put into place, surely there will be more economic activities in the North.

“I understand Government has a plan to build an airport in Seaqaqa but it would take time.

“While we wait, I suggest that we consider night landing facilities for Labasa Airport.”

International port of entry

Secondly, Mr Kumar said the international port of entry would generate more tourism activities which means it would bring more tourists and more business in Labasa town.

“I believe that Malau is the best place to have the international port of entry but then again I leave it for the Government to decide for as long as we have an international port of entry,” he said.

“Once we have these, people will not have to pay a lot of freight charges.

“More than 90 per cent of the trucks carrying goods that come from Viti Levu to Nabouwalu for delivery are for Labasa.

“If we have an international port of entry at Malau, it would be closer to Labasa Town.”

Bypass road

The third submission made was the need to have a bypass road in Labasa Town.

“There has been lot of traffic congestion and now that the Labasa Fiji Sugar Corporation Mill is about to open, there will be more traffic problems,” Mr Kumar said.

“The other thing we are looking at is that we need more investors to build factories in Labasa to create more job opportunities.

“I did inform the Attorney-General and Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during the Budget forum last weekend about creating ways to bring back about 20,000 people who left Labasa.

“Labasa is growing and as you can see, there are many people from Viti Levu investing their business in Labasa Town.

“While the Government is supporting Look North Policy, we are requesting more people of our own to return to invest in Labasa.”

Edited by: rachna lal

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