FIJI Airports Ltd won two prestigious awards at the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards 2025.
It won the Premier Large Business Operating Internationally Award, an accolade that recognises a company operating locally or internationally with sales exceeding $ 5million.
Company CEO Mesake Nawari was also recognised with the Executive of the Year Award which salutes business leaders and executives who show outstanding initiative, boldness, and imagination in the enterprise, sound management practices, and demonstrate sustainable growth combined with commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
In an interview Mr Nawari commended the work of past company leaders and staff who left behind a legacy that the present Fiji Airports team is building on. “I think it’s a recognition of the work that we are doing at Fiji Airports, that the team has been doing in the transformation process,” he said.
“We are just fortunate to be the people and the team that are doing the work at the moment and driving the work at Fiji Airports, because we continue from where the past leaders and staff left of.
“So, we recognise the efforts of those that have come before us, that we are able to stand on their shoulders tonight and continue the work that we have been able to do .”
For someone who had just joined Fiji Airports, Mr Nawari has taken the organisation to greater heights.
“It has been just a little over two years ago since I joined the company, but to have a great team that continues to grow with the growth in the business is such a wonderful opportunity.
“I think any leader that looks at growth and transformation will love to have a team like we have at Fiji Airports.
“And, personally, for me as somebody from Nadi, to come back and lead an organisation that is headquartered in Nadi is more than a job. It’s fulfilling a great purpose for the people of Nadi, and the people of Fiji.”
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports was a catalyst for economic and social development in Fiji, “for Nadi and for the entire Ba Province, for Nausori, for all of Vanua Levu and all the outer islands”.
He said it has been a wonderful opportunity and time to be part of the Fiji Airports family. “And now in leading the team, not just in terms of our work but bringing in all other disciplines that safeguard the environment, social, all other safeguards to do with children, with communities, with stakeholders.
“And increasing the balance of women- staff employees and bringing in the new cadre of people into the organisation and journeying with them.
“These are the future of airports and aviation in Fiji and, of course, we see ourselves at Fiji Airports as the core; without Fiji Airports growing, Fiji Airways cannot grow as much and the hotel operators can’t grow as much, the tour operators and also for us at Fiji Airports, we see ourselves as not just in aviation but as part of the transport sector .
“So, the opportunity is for supporting the Government in terms of building new roads, and in terms of connecting to water transport and all that.
“And more importantly for tourists, we would like to see a concept of arrivals to the beach – the quicker they get to their resorts, the better it is.”
Fiji Airports management and staff with the Executive of the Year Award and Premier Large Business Operating Internationally Award during the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards at Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Denarau Island, Nadi.
Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari receives the Executive of the Year Award from member of parliament Manoa Kamikamica, Investment Fiji Chair Jenny Seeto and Telecom CEO, Charles Goundar at the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards at Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Denarau Island, Nadi.
