A Chinese provincial leader yesterday took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the long awaited WG Friendship Plaza in Suva.

Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Qiao Chuanxiu along with the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhang Ping were part of the ceremony.

WG Friendship Plaza is going to be the tallest building in the region, say the developers.

The construction is now underway. 

From left: Permanent Secretary for Local Government Joshua Wycliffe, Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment Lorna Eden, company chief executive, Hu Xiaolong , Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee Qiao Chuanxiu, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government, Parveen Bala and Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhang Ping. Photo: Selita Bolanavanua.

The 28-storey project will add more than 300 hotel rooms, a conferencing facility, an observatory tower, a boutique shopping arcade and facilities like Healthcare and Entertainment complexes.

WG Friendship Plaza is situated along McGregor Road. It is expected to open in 2019. 

It is another inspiration from China ‘One Belt and One Road’, ‘international development initiative.’

Officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony was Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government, Parveen  Bala.

Mr Bala said he was told that WG International Real Estate Company Fiji Limited, the developer will invest $150 million into the Plaza.

The project came at a time of increasing need in Suva for quality hotel accommodation, he said.

“This hotel development will also house a modern event facility-launching an iconic exemplar within the corporate event management space in Suva.

“This will not only drive the return on investments through sales but also drive the local economy including the creation of local jobs.”

Mr Bala added that the investment would benefit both the investment group and Fiji.

Also speaking at the event,  Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhang Ping  said China is now the third-largest trading partner and biggest source of direct foreign investment in Fiji.

“In 2016,the registered Chinese investment accounted 32.3 per cent of total registered foreign investment to Fiji, among which a great part comes from Chinese private sector.

“Chinese investment has contributed to 7 straight years of economic growth of Fiji and has created thousands of job opportunities.”

He added that the WG Friendship Plaza was a vivid example of the continuous development of China-Fiji economic and trade cooperation.

“It reflects the confidence that Chinese companies have in the future of our bilateral relations as well as the good prospect of Fiji’s long term development.”

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