Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s Government remains committed in the development of the nation as far as the pine industry is concerned.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will lead a highly powered Government delegation on a two-day visit to Kadavu.

One of the highlights of the visit is when the PM will open the country’s newly introduced sawmill in Vunisea, which has an inbuilt timber treatment plant.

“The Vunisea portable sawmill and treatment plant will immensely contribute towards the country’s export earnings and the development of Kadavu as a whole,” Mr Bainimarama said yesterday.

“The Vunisea Project will enable the pine industry to exploit its Kadavu Pine Forest resource to generate its much-needed income.”

This year, the FijiFirst Government had allocated a considerable sum of money to support the pine industry in the maritime islands.

Mr Bainimarama highlighted the prominence of the pine industry to the development of the rural areas and the improvement of individual lives and families that provides the much-needed impetus to drive Fiji’s economy.

Accompanied by ministers and senior Government officials, the PM and his team will visit several upgrading projects and also inspect roads on the island.

The PM’s other official engagements are:

Handing over of desks, chairs and beddings at the Kadavu Provincial School;

Jioma foot crossing in the Naceva district; and

Commissioning of the Ravitaki Nursing Station which is towards the south end of the island.

Mr Bainimarama is also going to be briefed on the progress of the Kadavu Development Plan, the electricity grid extension and initiatives to stimulate the thriving yaqona industry in the island.

Mr Bainimarama is expected to return on Thursday.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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