The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, recently visited Red Stag Timber, a privately owned timber company located in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Red Stag Timber holds the distinction of being the largest timber company in the Southern Hemisphere, producing over 600,000 cubic meters of Radiata Pine and Douglas-fir timber each year, which translates to an annual turnover exceeding NZ $220 million. The company is widely recognized for its innovative approaches and commitment to sustainable timber production.
During the visit, DPM Kamikamica focused on understanding the success of one of New Zealand’s largest sawmills, which supplies high-quality timber to markets in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific region. He acknowledged the company’s advancements in innovation and supply chain development and suggested that collaboration with industries in Fiji could be advantageous.
By adopting modern technology and best practices from Red Stag Timber, Fiji could develop strategies and techniques to enhance its forestry sector, particularly concerning mahogany, a key export commodity for the nation.
DPM Kamikamica expressed gratitude to Red Stag Timber for the learning experience and looked forward to potential future collaborations within the timber industry.