A furniture manufacturing company has been set up on a remote island in the northern division to help lift the living standard of surrounding villages.
PUB- FIJ ;Fiji Times
Funded by an American couple, the Korovatu and Skreds manufacturing on Qamea Island, off Taveuni, was opened last week and would see employment opportunities for the villagers of Naiviivi.
Michael Skredsvig who funded the business with $300,000 said the operation of the company from the village was aimed at improving living standard of villagers.
"We can still build such businesses on remote islands such as this or have an industry and this furniture manufacturing company will be owned and run by the villagers of Naiviivi," said Mr Skredsvig, who is a retired woodworker and holds high qualifications in the field.
He said he will not take any profit or have a say in the business that is expected to be fully operational in two weeks.
"The villagers will run the show in doing sales and other operations. I have just helped set it up for the villagers and they will run the business but I will be around to advise them and train them on the making of furniture," Mr Skredsvig said.
The company is targeting resorts as their market knowing that importing furniture was costly.
Mr Skredsvig said buying local furniture would help decrease the cost of buying from overseas countries.
"I see a lot of people very interested because it's a locally produced product which helps cut costs. There will be no cane furniture but furniture made from vesi, mahogany and other local wood."
On employment, he said the company would train five men first before increasing the number to 40.
An adviser to the villagers, Kelemete Sikaipotu said the business brought new hope to the villagers of Naiviivi by creating employment opportunities for youths and unemployed villagers.
"It's a great opportunity for the villagers to make a difference in the living standard and make changes now for the sake of our future generation.
"The village committee will be responsible for the running of the business and all decisions on the operation will be made by them," Mr Sikaipotu said.
