Faiyaz Koya has praised the Memorandum of Understanding between the Fiji National University and Douglas Pharmaceuticals Fiji Limited.

The Minister for Trade made these remarks during the MoU signing yesterday at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

He said the MoU was a step in the right direction and a show of confidence and support of the private sector in the overall vision of the Government to have a knowledge-based society.

The MoU provides the mechanism through which a partnership is established between the two parties for the purpose of teaching and learning pharmaceutical manufacturing engineering programme in Fiji using good manufacturing practice.

The MoU is valid for five years.

Mr Koya said the Fijian Government recognised that investment in Human Resources Development was a key ingredient in enhancing Fiji’s competitiveness.

“When the Douglas Pharmaceutical approached the Government with this idea, the Fijian Government fully supported the concept as the human resources is a major contributor to productivity growth and can be the source of unique competitive advantage,” Mr Koya said.

Douglas Pharmaceuticals Fiji Ltd chief operating officer Rod De Spong acknowledged the effort of both Douglas Pharmaceuticals and FNU teams in completing the foundation for delivery of a certificate in Manufacturing Engineering.

“This formal qualification will pave the way to increasing both the number and level of highly trained manufacturing operators employed at our Nadi facility,” Mr de Spong said.

“The certificate programme represents a four-year training commitment and those employees will achieve a New Zealand Qualifications Authority equivalent level qualification.”

FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Healey said the partnership with Douglas Pharmaceutical was a great example of FNU’s efforts for preparation in the corporate industry.

“We have many programmes as well as new programmes introduced to support the nation’s development,” Mr Healey said.

“This MoU is to support the growing pharmaceutical industry in Fiji by providing world class trained students.”

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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