FIJI PM breaks ground for Naim project

KUCHING: Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama on June 1, 2010 officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony to launch the Malaysia Exim Bank Funded Fiji Road Rehabilitation Project which is being-implemented by Naim Holdings Berhad (Naim).

Present at the ceremony held at the Lomolomo Naim Asphalt Plant Site near Nadi in Fiji were Naim chairman Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi, managing director Datuk Hasmi Hasnan, senior directors of the company and ministers and officers of the government of Fiji.

The Project is financed through two year period and at the end of this period, an estimated 106km of selected sections of Kings Road, Queens Road between Suva and Rakiraki, City and Councils roads within the project area will be rehabilitated.

In his speech, Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi stated that the present road surface is a chip-sealed surface and will be replaced by asphalt concrete surface after undergoing the rehabilitation work.

This asphalt concrete surfacing is promoted by Naim as the ideal surface after the pavement has been rehabilitated.

The benefits to Fiji’s general public will be better riding comfort and direct cost saving especially on tyres to all highway users.

He added that as part of their commitment to transfer technology to the Fijians, they have and are recruiting Fijians to be part of their team so that they can learn and benefit from all aspects of the works.

Currently Fijians make up more than half of the workforce.

In addition to the provision of the necessary transfer of technology, Naim being conscious of limited educational opportunities in Fiji is offering full scholarship to Fijian universities.

This will be done from this year through the Naim Trust Fund.

The students will also be given opportunities to undertake training and work within the Naim Group of Companies during their semester breaks and after their graduation.

This is part of Naim’s Corporate Social Responsibility which they have committed to practice in all areas in which they operate. Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi also assured the Fiji Government that Nairn will deliver both their current projects in the country.