A $5million juice bottling line was launched yesterday marking the first of its kind for Fiji and the region.
Pulp fruit juice will hit the local market next week after an advertising campaign commenced early this month which asked people "Where is the Pulp?"
Made by Coca-Cola's own Minute Maid company, Pulp - which comes in four flavours is being bottled at Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji and will be exported to the region.
Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji managing director Andrew Preece said the new juice line which was a first for Oceania would help create jobs and reduce transportation costs incurred during importation.
Officiating at the launch, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said the launch would create jobs, reduce imports and increase exports.
"The more we make here in Fiji, the more jobs we create for Fijians and the more money enters into our economy. Increased local and foreign sales also increases tax revenue, which helps pay for things such as better school, better hospitals and better roads," he said.
Commodore Bainimarama said his government was committed to ensuring that transparency, stability and integrity formed the foundations for all new development. "This instils confidence in those looking to conduct business in Fiji.
"Manufacturing is an area of great potential for our country. Approximately 30,000 people or 22 per cent of the workforce are employed in this sector. It contributes 15 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product," he said. He said a zero rated duty on all manufacturing plant and equipment was introduced to revitalise and expand the sector.
"If we continue along our positive trajectory, I firmly believe that Fiji has the ability to become the hub of manufacturing in the Pacific," he said.