Noibuli Investment, a family-owned logging business based in Nawaicoba, Nadroga/Navosa, received a 12-wheeler logging truck valued at $195,000 from the Government on May 14, 2026, in a move officials say will close critical logistical gaps and boost rural economic activity. The acquisition was facilitated under the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme (IHRDP), a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots enterprises across Fiji. The Government contributed $130,000 toward the vehicle while Noibuli Investment provided the remaining $65,000, with Merchant Finance acting as a partner in the transaction.
The handover was officiated by Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development Sachida Nand, who framed the purchase as a partnership rather than a giveaway. “This outcome demonstrates exactly what the IHRDP is designed to achieve. It is not a handout scheme, but a partnership model in which Government works alongside entrepreneurs who are prepared to invest in themselves,” Mr Nand said, reiterating the programme’s role in providing targeted capital, machinery and resources to community-based projects.
Noibuli Investment is owned and operated by Iliavi Haru Naorodei, who brings 14 years of operational experience in the forestry sector and has spent five years working as a heavy mobile mechanic. The company has established itself as a reliable contractor for Fiji Pine Limited, specialising in sustainable timber extraction and logistical services. Officials said the new 12-wheeler will form part of a wider fleet modernisation project that Noibuli is undertaking to transition from small-scale operations to a higher-capacity commercial provider.
Logistics constraints have long been cited as a bottleneck for forestry contractors and other rural industries, increasing costs and limiting the scale at which small operators can compete. By supplying heavy equipment on a co-investment basis, the IHRDP aims to lift commercial viability in the countryside, create steady employment and strengthen supply chains that feed into larger processors such as Fiji Pine Limited. The Government says matching contributions from businesses help ensure ownership, accountability and long-term sustainability of the supported assets.
The truck handover is the latest, tangible example of the Government’s push to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and rural development, a policy thrust that has included broader financial measures to expand credit availability to priority sectors. Last year, the Government backed an expanded guarantee for the Fiji Development Bank to improve lending capacity to sectors including agriculture, transport and MSMEs — steps officials say complement programmes like the IHRDP by improving access to finance alongside asset support.
Under Mr Naorodei’s leadership, Noibuli Investment officials say the new vehicle will allow the company to increase timber haulage capacity, reduce turnaround times and take on larger contracts, directly supporting local livelihoods in Nadroga/Navosa. With the addition of modern heavy equipment and technical know-how from Noibuli’s mechanics, the business intends to scale operations while maintaining a stated focus on sustainable extraction practices. The handover marks a practical, on-the-ground development in the Government’s wider effort to commercialise and stabilise rural industries.