Landowners are encouraged to take a more active role in utilizing their properties, according to Minister for Public Works, Meteorology and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau. He made this statement during a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between the Fiji National Provident Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and the Nakovacake Development Trust for a significant tourism project in Nasaulevu, Nadi.
Ro Filipe stressed the government’s goal of ensuring that landowners are not merely observers but are actively engaged in the economic development of their land. He remarked on the importance of community involvement and the government’s commitment to supporting landowners in achieving economic participation.
At the signing ceremony, Commander-Joint Task Force Brigadier-General Manoa Gadai, chairman of the Nakovacake Development Trust, highlighted this MOU as a pivotal moment for both local communities and Fiji as a whole. He noted that the collaboration between the FNPF and ADB represents an unprecedented venture of this scale, promising significant development and opportunities for the nation.
Brig-Gen Gadai emphasized that this agreement signifies the start of a transformative journey for the Nakovacake community, particularly with the development of Nasaulevu, which is situated near the Port Denarau Marina. He expressed that this initiative will not only enhance the tourism sector but also benefit the local communities, representing a return to the ancestral lands that are foundational to their identity.