The Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) handed over a cheque of $879,730.69 to the Government this week.
The payment was for the first half of lease rental for 2024, and stumpage fees for 2023 from the 75,223 hectares of plantation estate, of which 41,325 hectares consisted of mahogany.
Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu accepted the cheque from FHCL chairperson Iowane Naiveli, and he urged the company to engage more with landowning units.
“Today’s handing over ceremony supports and reinforces the approach we are taking towards empowering the landowning units,” Mr Vasu said in a government statement.
He said he was confident that would continue under the Coalition Government’s strategic direction for the iTaukei.
The lease rental is advance payment for the next six months.
and for the first time in 5 years FHCL has updated the stumpage payment fees for landowning units.
“Simple practical steps taken by the Coalition Government to reform the mahogany industry is already yielding significant results. The upcoming review of the mahogany industry will further enhance this”, added Minister Vasu.
