Fiji could have another mineral water bottling company, after a memorandum of agreement was signed with a concrete contractor.

Maxbuild, a 100 per cent Fijian company that specialised in structural strengthening and concrete refurbishment, signed the agreement (MOA) with the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in recent weeks.

The MOA heralds collaboration in the survey and development of groundwater for the purpose of commercial mineral water bottling.

Maxbuild has remained tight- lipped, with its business manager, Howard Politini, and a New Zealand director Max Kumar, yesterday saying they could not provide an official comment.

Diversification

During the MOA signing, permanent secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Raijeli Taga, said: “The intention for Maxbuild to diversify underlies encouraging growth in investor confidence in investing in Fiji, given the depressed investment climate.”

“This project will go a long way in contributing to Fiji’s economic recovery.

“I thank Maxbuild and its directors for the diverse investment portfolio, and for giving back to Fiji and all Fijians.”

According to the company’s website, Maxbuild was established in 2016 to provide structural strengthening and concrete refurbishment to maintain buildings, bridges, and structures throughout Fiji.

Closed

On the website, the concrete contractor has a New Zealand registered telephone number.

An aspiring leading asset maintenance contractor, concrete repair and protection, structural strengthening, specialist grouting and waterproofing, the company’s Fiji operations have since closed.

It claims to have employed up to 30 Fijians over the last four years. “Our typical projects include bridge maintenance and wharf repair,” Maxbuild said.

It claims to be the only bridge maintenance specialist in Fiji, after working on more than 20 bridges through out the country.

Statistically

Meanwhile, Ms Taga said the economic value and potential of the mineral water industry earned$200million in 2015.

“This rose steadily over the consecutive four years to $294 million,” Ms Taga said.

“It remained well above $200 million in 2020, despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ms Taga said the mineral water sector contributed 25 per cent of total exports in 2019, and 20 per cent in 2020, with an average export earning $234 million for the period 2014-2019.

“Tax revenue was an average of $57 million for 2014- 2019,” she said.

“With the onset of climate change and the extreme conditions, and disasters associated with it, sustainable development is very important in the development of important natural resources such as groundwater.”

Ms Taga said the willing collaboration of Maxbuild with the ministry, through the Mineral Resources Department’s technical capacity in the evaluation and management of groundwater resources, ensured that best practices were guaranteed.

“This project will definitely go a long way to contribute to Fiji’s economic recovery.”

Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj