THE Wonderful Company, parent company of Fiji Water, has announced the setting up of a $14 million technical career centre in Fiji with the aim of addressing local workforce challenges, including the outflux of skilled labour.
Speaking at the 50th Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants (FICA) annual congress last week, company executive vice president Craig Cooper said the idea was borne from firsthand experience of skill shortage and would be done in partnership with the Fiji National University (FNU).
“We have had a challenge in both the Fiji Water business and our Neptune Pacific Business to get properly trained Fijians to work on our ships and at the Fiji water plant as many would probably know, the outflux of skilled labour in the last couple of years that’s becoming even more difficult,” Mr Cooper said.
“Our idea is to upskill local Fijians by providing world class instructors, curriculum, and certifications. They’re recognised all over the world to make them career ready.
“So, we plan to do this, and we’ve been working with FNU, and we’re bringing our company’s expertise in technical education.”
He said the technical career centre would offer two primary tracks: maritime and manufacturing training and would operate on a non-profit basis, with tuition structured through FNU and additional sponsorship to ensure affordability.
“We’re going to invest $14m to get it off the ground, to basically renovate the space that FNU is providing and to develop the curriculum, and we’re going to work with the international regulatory agencies in order to get the certifications that meet the international standards.
“We’re going to send the first cohort, or two, of employees from Fiji Water and from Neptune Pacific and then it’ll be open for anyone to send their employees.”
Mr Cooper said the technical career centre would provide significant impact on the manufacturing and shipping industries in Fiji.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 12, 2025
