Plans are underway to enhance Fiji’s building and infrastructure, featuring 104 contracts valued at $1.6 billion (approximately $750 million USD). This assessment of projects was provided by several agencies, including the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), Fiji Airports, the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), and Energy Fiji Limited (EFL), during the 2024 Fiji-Australia, Australia-Fiji Business Councils Joint Forum held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
Tim Houghton, the Australian Trade and Investment Commissioner for the broader Pacific and Timor-Leste, noted that the consolidation of these project figures is part of an effort by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Austrade, and various international organizations, which have compiled procurement packages worth around $2 billion across the Pacific region.
Up until May of this year, a collaboration among Australia, DFAT, the AIFFP, the Australian Department of Defence, the World Bank, ADB, MFAT, and the EU has initiated the first comprehensive infrastructure pipeline effort for the Pacific region. Mr. Houghton mentioned that in their specific collaboration for Fiji, they have identified $750 million for this in-depth analysis.
Four open tenders exceeding $20 million have been identified for Fiji, which include the $150 million compliance project for the Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant by WAF, an $82.4 million critical bridges resilience project by FRA, a $24 million expansion of the departure lounge by Fiji Airports, and a $23 million new generation addition at the Kinoya 20MW HFO by EFL.
Additionally, there are three ‘to be confirmed’ value packages, which include plans for the relocation of the Suva Port project by Fiji Ports. Houghton encouraged attendees with queries about the “infrastructure deep dive” to engage with representatives from local agencies present at the forum.
The three-day forum concludes today.