Work on reviving the sugar industry will be continued by incoming Sugar Industry Minister Tomasi Tunabuna, says outgoing Minister Charan Jeath Singh.
He said this was discussed with Mr Tunabuna during the duo’s recent official trip to India.
“Wherever I have left the industry and the plans we made, he should continue with that,” Mr Singh said.
“The 15 different assistance programs done over the last three years should continue.”
He said on its current path, the industry would be able to return to more two million tonnes of cane production annually.
“If he (Tunabuna) continues to do that then we should go from 1.3 million tonnes of cane that we had in the previous years and increase that this year.
“We should have about 1.5 million tonnes of cane which is a 200,000 tonnes increase.
“If the programs continue then we can increase our production by 200,000 tonnes annually and should go back to our previous 2.5 million tonnes of cane production over the next five years.”
He said despite concerns, the industry is optimistic.
“We know that this is happening all over the world with the sugar industry, we have seen there are ups and downs but we have to make things happen.
“If we are to be serious about the sugar industry then we have to increase our production.
“If we are going to have a new state-of-the-art mill then we have to be producing 2.5 million tonnes of cane.”
He said Mr Tunabuna would be overseeing the process of establishing the multi-million dollar mill in the Western Division.
“We have called for an Expression of Interest and it will either be in Rakiraki, Tavua or Ba.
“When the new minister comes in, he will see the current assessments and the tender process as well.”
Mr Singh takes up the Public Enterprises portfolio from January 19, and Mr Tunabuna will succeed him as Minister for Sugar Industry.
