FIJI Ports Corporation Limited paid the government $2.8 million yesterday as dividend.
Attorney-General and Public Entreprises Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum attributed the payout to the consolidated performance of the company.
He said the dividend was 50 per cent of FPCL's 2011 net profit after tax of $5.64 million.
"This marks a continuance of FPCL's year over year improvement of dividend payments," he said. In 2010, FPCL returned a dividend of $2.6 million and in 2009 the dividend payout was $1.7 million compared to $875,983 in 2008, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
Fiji Ports is made up of FPCL and subsidiary companies Ports Terminal Limited and Fiji Ships Heavy Industries, he said.
"Fiji Ports handles more than 95 per cent of the nations trade in terms of imports and exports and provides employment to more than 450 people in Suva, Lautoka, Levuka and the surrounding areas," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.