Prime Minister's Speech

In today’s knowledge society, managing information efficiently is critical. This is what has made Information and Communications Technology, or ICT, one of the fastest growing industries worldwide.

Its potential, at this point, seems boundless. Nor is ICT restricted to any particular geographical base. Companies can operate many thousands of miles from their customers.
A recent BBC radio programme gave the example of surgeons at a hospital in the United States, whose notes, dictated at their patients’ bedsides, are processed by a company in India.

A key factor in any development of this remarkable business is the availability of a skilled manpower base, which Fiji can develop.
We already have a second prerequisite in place. The vast capacity of the Southern Cross Cable lies ready and waiting to use.
Provided our young people can be taught the necessary skills, there is nothing to stop out country joining India, and the Philippines, as one of the world’s acknowledged IT service providers.

This is why I am pleased to see the launch today of our country’s first NIIT education centre. Information Technology can help to power forward socio-economic development in Fiji, just as it has done elsewhere. There are some experts who believe it could equal, or better, sugar and textiles. The foundations of this industry locally were laid some 18 months ago with the arrival of Quest, a pioneer in Fiji of the Business Process Offshoring sector.

Quest is delighted with its success to date, and has opened a second office.Economic growth in Fiji has been extremely encouraging of late, and the climate is right for development of the new businesses we need to sustain this. So Fiji must do everything in its power to attract and assist the right investors. For example, we need to review our approvals systems. NIIT could have been up and running earlier, but for bureaucratic delays in areas such as the issuing of a business licence. This launch was put on hold because of this.

Fortunately a committed local investor was involved; someone who had the patience and determination not to be discouraged, but to stay the course. When we look at the venture in question, we can well understand why he persevered.
NIIT comes to Fiji with formidable credentials. This is 240 million US dollar IT solutions corporation.

Speech by Hon. PM Laisenia Qarase at the opening of the Suva centre

It has trained more than 3.5 million students at 4000 centres in 49 countries. It is the leader in IT education in Asia and one of the top 10 software exporters in India. NIIT’s customer portfolio reads like a Who’s Who of corporate giants, ranging from AT&T to British Airways, Hewlett Packard, Sony, and the WorldBank. It is an advisor to Governments.
Like Quest, it is also involved in Business Process Outsourcing, or Offshoring, a field identified for expansion in Fiji.
This is something perhaps NIIT and we could discuss further. For now though, we are concerned with the educational aspect.
Since 1981, NIIT has developed a range of educational programmes answering a wide spectrum of needs. Students range from experienced professionals requiring advanced specialist training, to young people being groomed for a computer-based career.
Computer literacy is fast becoming a requirement globally, for almost every career option.
NIIT’s alliances with technology leaders like IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Sun Microsystems, means the company also has the insight to technologies of the future.
The latest developments are monitored continuously and the content of the training courses broadened accordingly, enabling NIIT to launch new specialities ahead of its competitors.
In Fiji, the initial focus will be on three different areas, one of which may prove, in the long term, the most important.
As well as corporate and individual training, NIIT will be promoting computer education for the children of our country.