MORE than 60 landowners attended a workshop on how to capitalise on their natural resources and make informed investment decisions.
It was organised by the Land Use Division of the Ministry of Land and Mineral resources.
Speaking with this newspaper, Land Use Division manager Marika Tunidavu said the workshop provided an essential platform to empower landowners in managing their investments effectively.
“Looking after the welfare of landowners has often been overlooked,” Mr Tunidavu said.
“This workshop is designed to equip them with knowledge about investment opportunities and financial management.”
It featured speakers from investment companies who shared valuable insights on effective money management and how to maximise profits from leased land.
Mr Tunidavu said the Land Use Division had issued 98 leases, covering a total of 10,000 hectares of land.
These leases are authorised under a system designated by the Prime Minister.
A highlight of the workshop was the handover of a $1.3 million cheque to Radike Qereqeretabua, a former renowned hotelier.
According to Mr Tunidavu, the cheque represented profit-sharing revenue from Kokomo Resort, which operates on leased land belonging to Mr Qereqeretabua’s Mataqali Natusara, and not lease payments.
“The resort shares a percentage of its revenue with the landowners on a yearly basis, in addition to lease payments made every six months.” The two-day workshop concluded yesterday.
