Aitken Spence plans right product to boost port capacity
10 February 2015 04:19 am
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Aitken Spence PLC plans to provide Fiji with the right products to boost capacity.For the last 15 months since it sealed a public-private partnership to manage Fiji’s international ports, the Sri Lankan firm has invested up to US $ 4.7 million.
This was done to boost its foundation plans in bringing about productivity and efficiency to Fiji’s main international ports in Suva and Lautoka.
The rebranding from Ports Terminal Limited to Fiji Ports Terminal Limited was just another example of what the 200 Fortune Company did recently at the Grand Pacific Hotel.Aitken Spence Maritime Chairman/ Chief Executive as well as Aitken Spence PLC Director, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake reaffirmed their commitment to shipping stakeholders.
“When you have the right product, we can launch a marketing campaign to boost volumes thereby attracting new shipping lines,” Dr. Dissanayake said.
“And when you have more shipping lines, you will have more capacity and when you have more capacity, the freight rates are bound to go low.” This, he said, would boost exports and imports and generate more employment and enable Fiji to become the hub of the South Pacific.
“In Sri Lanka, we say port is the heart of the nation. And when you have an efficient port blessed with the right location like Fiji’s, you would establish not only a maritime hub but also aviation and a logistics hub.
“I’m sure the vision of the government is to establish Fiji as a gateway not only for maritime services but also for aviation and logistics.”
The rebranding this week signified that Fiji Ports Terminal joins other Fijian brands to become recognised on the world map. Carpenters Shipping Limited General Manager Manikam Narain echoed similar sentiments made by other shipping line representatives.
“For a name like Ports Terminal Limited in the world, we don’t know where it belongs to. Now it says Fiji in short people are able to identify with location and product,” he said.