FIJI Water and Neptune Pacific have announced a $14 million investment to establish the state-of-the-art FIJI water and Neptune Pacific Career Centre, a marine and manufacturing training facility at the Fiji National University’s Laucala campus.
The initiative, launched yesterday by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka alongside FNU vice chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, and The Wonderful Company executive vice president Craig Cooper, aims to address critical skill shortages in Fiji’s industrial sectors.
Developed in partnership with FNU, the centre will offer hands-on training, industrial skill development, and accredited certification for students pursuing careers in marine and manufacturing.
The project is backed by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, which has invested more than US$2.5 billion ($F5.66b) globally in education, health, and sustainability initiatives.
Professor Nabobo-Baba described the investment as “a pivotal step toward a brighter future for Fiji,” highlighting its potential to train more than 400 students over the next decade.
Newly appointed Career Centre director Carol Watkins, a veteran of the manufacturing and FMCG sectors, will lead the initiative in ensuring Fiji’s workforce is equipped to meet evolving local and international industry demands.
