A culture, art and commercial centre proposed to be built in Vuda in 2020 was put on halt as the strategic funding partner pulled out of the project.
Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu said basic outlining, drawing and concept for the project had been completed with a feasibility study in progress. However, he said the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 prevented the completion of the feasibility study.
While giving his response to the iTaukei Trust Fund Board Annual Report of 2020, he said the prolonged delay disrupted business operations.
“The iTaukei Trust Fund Board signed a memorandum of understanding with the strategic partner Sunshine and AMP Manufacturing Ltd with the aim to establish a culture, art and commercial centre,” he said.
“The location of this project was to be in Vuda which is also known as the place where our forefathers first settled in when arriving into Fiji.”
He said it was the strategic partner who decided to pull out from the project, not the Government.
“They decided to take stock and consolidate its operations and focus more on their main business which is manufacturing,” he said.
In the meantime, he said the Trust Fund would engage in search for another alternative partner.
