Speech by TFL CEO at 2010 EYA Contract Signing

2010 Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards Contract Signing

Acting Chief Executive Officer TFL: Mr. Sakeasi Seru
Date: 16th June, 2010
Venue: Kalabu Tax Free Zone

CEO FTIB, Mrs. Annie Rogers;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Members of the Media;

Bula Vinaka.

The theme of this year’s Awards fits nicely into our interests in supporting the Exporter of the Year Awards, because our product is ICT and to coin the theme - ICT: The Pillar of Economic Prosperity fits in.

As a major sponsor of the Annual FTIB Export Awards, TFL is 100% Fiji owned. Our association reflects TFL’s commitment to support local entrepreneurs in their effort to push the economic performance and growth and creation of wealth here in the country. The Exporter of the Year Awards also highlights to all of us how vital a vibrant export industry is in meeting our unified objective which is to raise the standard of living of our people here in Fiji.

One of the things that we support in telecommunication or in the ICT industry is to grow the knowledge economy here in Fiji. Last week, there was an announcement that Fiji is opening up the Southern Cross Cable and that would enable to grow the knowledge economy here in Fiji and the back-office industry, which grow the export of knowledge and competence in the Fiji market.

We recognize that telecommunication or ICT plays a major role and TFL provides the infrastructure for that growth. We tailor communication services so that in turn they can provide services to the best of our abilities. We are not the only telecommunication provider; there are other telecommunication providers who support the knowledge economy here in Fiji.

It’s only appropriate for TFL to support this year’s Exporter of the Year Awards and also in the coming years because we feel that the knowledge economy is a stable product for Fiji. Even more so, that TFL has ventured into new technology so that we can better serve the business sector, to ensure that businesses can focus on serving their customers better, but also operate more efficiently and that is exactly what we are doing for our corporate customers, and also our medium and small-medium entrepreneurs to encourage them in using technology.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Annie Rogers and her team from the FTIB for creating a wonderful event that salutes the achievements of exporters and their contributions to the economy.

Vinaka Vakalevu, Dhani ya baad, thank you very much.

ENDS