Despite the escalating COVID-19 situation in Fiji, the Nadi-based English language program for international students – Free Bird Institute Limited (FBL) says it continues to receive interest from potential students to come and study in Fiji.
And FBL chief operating officer Mereseini Baleilevuka made the comment in the institution’s market announcement issued by the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) yesterday that advised receiving another conditional approval for foreign students to come and study in Fiji.
In the market announcement, the FBL stated that it received its third conditional approval from the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce (CRMT) on July 30, and it allowed international students from Japan to enter Fiji under the Specific Request under Significant Economic Value category of the Fijian COVID Safe Economic Recovery Framework.
The FBL stated that the conditions set out in this approval letter that the institution must adhere to, would ensure those students were brought in a COVID-safe manner and ensured the safety and wellbeing of all Fijians were protected.
“More than 80 per cent of our employees have already received their first jab of the vaccine,” Ms Baleilevuka said.
“… This will add further confidence to the international market that FBL and its employees are doing the best it can to ensure that we provide a safe and working environment not only for each other but also our students.”
FBL is now planning with Air New Zealand to charter another flight in September to be able to bring in the next batch of students with a date yet to be finalised.
FBL chief executive officer Hiroshi Taniguchi said their efforts would ensure they were able to continue to support as many employees and homestay families as possible.
“We continue to ensure that our efforts will continue to bring significant economic value to our country and to our people and contribute largely to the recovery of the Fijian economy,” Mr Taniguchi said.
