Salutation
Ni Sa Bula Vina’a and a very good morning to you all.
Let me first begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, ki Matanikutu vua na Turaga na Qaranivalu and I pay my respects to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging leaders and I acknowledge their enduring role within the Vanua.
We remain grateful for their custodianship of this land and for the opportunity to gather here today to mark an important step in Fiji’s transition towards a cleaner, more productive and resilient economy.
A Private-Sector Investment with National Significance
2.0 This investment is significant not simply because it introduces more renewable energy into BAT’s operations, but because it demonstrates what can be achieved when private-sector investment, innovation and national development priorities move in the same direction.
3.0 Fiji’s development ambition is clear. We are working to build a more productive, competitive and resilient economy capable of sustaining higher levels of economic growth and creating greater opportunities for our people.
4.0 Our ambition to lift long-term economic growth towards 6 percent annually and attain High-Income Status by 2050 will require investment well beyond Government alone.
5.0 It requires a productive private sector that is willing to invest, innovate, adopt new technologies, improve efficiency and take long-term decisions that strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of our economy.
6.0 The investment we are commissioning today is a practical example of that contribution.
Supporting Fiji’s Energy Transition
7.0 Energy is fundamental to economic productivity. Every factory, business, hospital, school, farm and household depends on reliable and affordable energy.
8.0 At the same time, Fiji remains exposed to international fuel prices, global supply disruptions and external economic shocks. Strengthening domestic renewable energy capacity is therefore not only an environmental priority; it is an economic and national resilience priority.
9.0 The transition to renewable energy can reduce exposure to imported fossil fuels, improve energy security and provide businesses with greater certainty over their long-term operating costs.
10.0 This is why investments such as the BAT solar system are important to Fiji’s broader economic transformation.
11.0 They demonstrate that climate action and economic development do not have to be competing objectives. Done well, the energy transition can improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, create new investment opportunities and build resilience at the same time.
Advancing Fiji’s National Commitments
12.0 Fiji has made clear commitments through our Nationally Determined Contribution, Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy and wider climate and development frameworks to reduce emissions and strengthen our resilience to climate change.
13.0 Our renewable energy ambitions, including the transition towards a predominantly renewable electricity system, require action across the economy.
14.0 Government cannot deliver these commitments alone. Every major sector of the economy has a role to play — Government, businesses, communities, development partners and citizens.
15.0 The private sector is particularly important because investment decisions made today determine the technologies, infrastructure and production systems that will shape Fiji’s economy for decades to come.
16.0 BAT Fiji’s investment therefore contributes to a much larger national effort: reducing emissions, strengthening energy security and building a more resilient and low-emissions economy.
A Practical Example of Just Transition
17.0 This investment also speaks directly to Fiji’s commitment to a Just Transition.
18.0 A just transition is not simply about moving away from fossil fuels. It is about ensuring that the transition creates economic opportunities, protects livelihoods, strengthens skills and enables businesses and communities to participate meaningfully in the new economy.
19.0 Fiji must therefore pursue a transition that is environmentally responsible, economically viable and socially inclusive.
20.0 Businesses that invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, new technologies and sustainable production are helping to demonstrate what this transition can look like in practice.
21.0 They are also showing that climate responsibility can be integrated into business strategy while maintaining productivity and competitiveness.
22.0 This is the type of investment Fiji needs to encourage — investment that delivers commercial value while also generating wider national benefits.
The BAT Investment
23.0 I understand that BAT Fiji has invested approximately $1.5 million in solar installations across its Nabua and Nadi facilities.
24.0 I also understand that the systems are expected to provide a significant share of BAT Fiji’s electricity requirements across the two facilities, while substantially reducing emissions from its operations.
25.0 These are meaningful results. More importantly, they demonstrate that renewable energy can be incorporated into established industrial operations without compromising productivity.
26.0 This is the message I would like to leave with businesses across Fiji: sustainability is increasingly becoming a component of competitiveness.
27.0 The companies that invest today in efficient technologies, renewable energy, innovation and resilient supply chains will be better positioned to manage future shocks and compete in a changing global economy.
From Investment to Productivity and Nation Building
28.0 Our national development agenda calls for stronger private-sector participation in economic transformation.
29.0 Government has an important role in establishing the enabling environment — through sound policy, infrastructure, regulation, investment facilitation and strategic partnerships.
30.0 But Government cannot substitute for private investment, entrepreneurship and innovation.
31.0 The private sector creates jobs, develops skills, introduces new technologies, expands markets and increases productivity.
32.0 When these investments also contribute to our climate and resilience objectives, their value extends beyond the individual enterprise.
33.0 That is why I encourage businesses across Fiji to look beyond the immediate cost of investment and consider the long-term economic value of resilience, energy efficiency and sustainability.
34.0 There are opportunities across our economy — in renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, transport, tourism, construction, fisheries, forestry, waste management and the emerging blue and green economy.
35.0 These are not only climate opportunities. They are opportunities for investment, innovation, employment, productivity and economic growth.
Building a Smart and Resilient Economy
36.0 Fiji must increasingly become a smart, resilient and resource-efficient economy.
37.0 This means using technology and innovation to produce more efficiently, reduce waste, lower operating costs, improve resource management and strengthen our ability to withstand external shocks.
38.0 Renewable energy is an important part of that transformation. So too are digital technologies, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable transport, resilient infrastructure, efficient water and waste systems, and the responsible use of our ocean and natural resources.
39.0 Our ambition is not simply to become greener. It is to become more productive, more competitive and more resilient while protecting the natural assets upon which our economy and communities depend.
40.0 This is consistent with our national development aspirations and with Fiji’s broader vision of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient nation.
Government–Private Sector Partnership
41.0 The Government therefore welcomes and encourages investments such as this.
42.0 We will continue to work towards creating an environment that supports responsible private investment, innovation and sustainable economic activity.
43.0 At the same time, I encourage the private sector to continue identifying opportunities where commercial investment can contribute to national priorities.
44.0 The partnership must be mutually reinforcing: Government creates the enabling environment, while the private sector brings capital, innovation, technology, expertise and commercial discipline.
45.0 Together, we can accelerate the transformation required to meet our national development, climate and economic objectives.
Beyond the Solar System
46.0 I also acknowledge BAT Fiji’s engagement with local farming communities and its support for farmers through seedlings, agricultural inputs, land preparation and technical assistance.
47.0 With approximately 600 farmers involved this year, this demonstrates the broader role that private enterprise can play in supporting rural livelihoods and strengthening local economic participation.
48.0 These partnerships matter because national development must extend beyond our urban centres.
49.0 We must create opportunities across our communities, strengthen rural livelihoods and ensure that the benefits of economic transformation reach ordinary Fijians.
Conclusion
50.0 Ladies and gentlemen, today’s commissioning is a practical demonstration of the direction in which Fiji must continue to move.
51.0 It demonstrates that economic growth, private investment, energy security, climate action and resilience can reinforce one another.
52.0 BAT Fiji has made a significant investment in its own operations, but it has also made a contribution to Fiji’s wider transition towards a cleaner and more resilient economy.
53.0 I therefore commend the Board, Management and staff of BAT Fiji for this initiative and for demonstrating the leadership that will be required from the private sector as Fiji advances its development ambitions.
54.0 I also acknowledge the engineers, contractors, suppliers, technical experts and project partners whose work has brought this investment to fruition.
55.0 As we look towards 2050, Fiji will need many more investments of this kind — investments that improve productivity, strengthen resilience, support our national climate commitments and create sustainable economic opportunities.
56.0 Let us continue to build a Fiji where economic progress and environmental responsibility go hand in hand; where innovation drives productivity; where the private sector is a strong partner in nation building; and where our transition to a low-emissions economy creates opportunity for all.
57.0 This is the Fiji we are working to build — a smarter, more resilient, more productive and more prosperous Fiji.
58.0 On behalf of the Government and the people of Fiji, I extend my sincere appreciation to BAT Fiji for this important investment and wish you every success in the continued operation and expansion of this initiative.
Vinaka vakalevu. Dhanyavaad. Thank you.
May God bless you all, and may God bless Fiji.
[END]