Out of the 136 board of directors in the country, 30.1% are women. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made this announcement in Parliament on Monday, noting his responsibility for appointing directors to a total of 23 boards, which include 13 public enterprises, nine statutory bodies, and Fiji Ports Corporation Pte Ltd, all under the purview of the Ministry of Public Enterprises.
Mr. Rabuka explained that while the ministry appoints these 23 boards, it only has oversight over the 13 public enterprises. He highlighted several key initiatives that the ministry has undertaken to enhance the effectiveness of these boards.
The ministry provides training for both current and new directors. A recent corporate governance workshop was conducted by the Ministry of Public Enterprises, with support from PSDI under ADB, on May 7, 2024, at the Holiday Inn. This workshop saw participation from 100 individuals, including board directors, executive management members, and company secretaries.
Mr. Rabuka emphasized the importance of continuously upskilling directors to help them successfully navigate Fiji’s dynamic business environment. Additionally, the ministry is conducting board inductions for newly appointed directors to ensure they understand their entities and the duties expected of them during their terms.
Furthermore, Mr. Rabuka mentioned that the ministry is reviewing the 2009 Policy on Remuneration and Benefits for directors of government commercial companies and statutory authorities, describing it as outdated and in need of significant revisions to attract top-tier directors. The ministry is also considering the possibility of expanding this policy to create a uniform standard for all government boards across various ministries.