Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 10, 2022
Two New Zealand based companies and an Australian joint venture have spoken of their role as outsourcing companies and their successful engagement in Fiji.
CentreCom, a joint venture between Australia and Fiji Airways, Higgins, a construction company, Tower Insurance and Traseable Solutions, a technical company to promote fisheries, all based in New Zealand, described their experience of operating in Fiji, using the national human resourced network for their operations at a Webinar.
Organised recently by the New Zealand Fiji Business Council (NZFBC) in conjunction with the Office of the Fiji Consulate General and Trade Commission (New Zealand and Australia), Fiji High Commission in Wellington and the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the event provided a broad view of the recovery efforts of Fiji.
Growing demand for outsourcing
Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Miniter Faiyaz Koya, who spoke from Suva, said that as well as investment opportunities, there are major incentives available for investors.
“There is a growing demand for near-shoring of outsourcing services, making Fiji a near-shore Mecca because of our proximity to New Zealand and Australia,” he said.
Foreign companies doing business in Fiji said that a strong IT infrastructure and digital uptake across the community, competitive cost environment, cultural similarities with New Zealand, strong customer service ethic, same time zone, tax incentives and pro-active response to the Covid-19 pandemic including high vaccination rates as some of the factors encouraging them to establish their presence in the country, he said.
CentreCom
CentreCom, a Fiji-Australian joint venture BPO business, jointly owned by Fiji Airways accounts for 350 employees in Fiji, 200 of whom were recruited during the past 12 months.
The Company has a number of sites around the world, providing a global offering specialising in customer care with clients in sectors including aviation and e-commerce.
Managing Director Leslie A Cassar said that the Fiji government has provided considerable support to grow the sector including positioning BPO careers within the education framework
“A job in business process outsourcing is now seen as a strong job and an actual career path, not just a stepping-stone to something else. Fijians are very happy people and very natural at customer service,” he said.
Mr Cassar said Fiji is a favourite, with some of the largest Australian and New Zealand companies using its services.
With its main office in Suva, CentreCom is focusing on its Nadi airport site aiming to add 250 more people in the coming months.
Tower Insurance
Tower Insurance Managing Director (Pacific Islands) and Chief Risk Officer Paula ter Brake said that the 5000 graduates produced annually by the workforce and education system are a key benefit.
“The culture is second to none and we experience good long-term tenure of our staff,” she said.
Tower generates annual revenue of F$17 to F$20 million. It has 20 staff at two branches and more than 14,000 customers insured. It also runs a 40-seat internal business process outsource unit doing work in claims, administration, finance, and customer service.
“Suva is a very good place to do business from in terms of its safety and reduced weather perils compared to other locations Tower operates in throughout the Pacific,” she said.
Higgins
Higgins General Manager Henare Clarke spoke about the importance of community engagement and New Zealand-owned businesses taking a long-term position in their investments in Fiji.
The Company, which provides infrastructure services, has 250 employees in Fiji with Fiji Airports and Fiji Roading Authority as key clients.
Higgins is investing $10 million in a new asphalt plant amongst a range of other initiatives.
Bringing technology and expertise to Fiji helps both the company and the economy. Nearly all of our employees are Fijian, and we bring our expertise across from New Zealand to help upskill and share our learnings,” he said.
Mr Clarke said that supply chain limitation caused by the pandemic has been hurting.
“Getting that investment in heavy vehicles and construction materials, which all need to be shipped into the country, has created some problems for us,” he said.
Traseable Solutions
Traseable Solutions Managing Director Kenneth Katafono said that his Company has been successful in building software products for the Fiji-New Zealand agricultural trade.
The Company provides digital track-and-trace solutions from farm to plate and is now used across nine Pacific Island countries.
The event was sponsored by Tower Insurance.
Source: Matt Freeman, Freeman Media
Material Supplied by the Office of Fiji Trade Commission in Auckland
