Nadi Chamber of Commerce & Industry

04/09/2026

TARIFF LITERACY VITAL FOR BETTER BUSINESS DECISIONS: KUMAR

Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) president Lawrence Kumar has emphasised the importance of tariff literacy in helping businesses make informed decisions and respond effectively to economic and policy changes.

Mr Kumar made the comments while speaking at the official launch of the Basic Tariff Literacy Toolkit and Learning Management System at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Friday, September 4.

He attended the event following an eleventh-hour invitation from lead trainer Mr Joel Abraham and was pleased to share his experience as a participant in the Tariff Literacy Capacity Programme undertaken by the Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre (APRC).

Mr Kumar said a similar training programme had previously been organised in Nadi for NCCI members and proved highly successful.

“The programme provided a valuable opportunity for members of our business community to better understand tariff frameworks, pricing mechanisms and the various cost drivers that affect businesses,” Mr Kumar said.

“The Nadi programme was very successful and gave our members practical knowledge and tools that can support better business decision-making.”

He said a clearer understanding of tariffs was important for businesspeople because it enabled them to make more informed decisions and better understand how pricing structures and other costs could affect their operations.

“Another important part of the discussions was how tariff literacy can strengthen competitiveness and encourage greater participation in economic and policy dialogue,” Mr Kumar said.

“Programmes such as this are important for the business community because knowledge and understanding can help businesses respond better to economic and policy changes.”

Mr Kumar acknowledged APRC, particularly Mr Abraham, and its supporting partners for organising and delivering the training.

The Suva event featured presentations on the programme’s achievements, lessons and outcomes, followed by the official launch and demonstrations of the Basic Tariff Literacy Toolkit and Learning Management System.

The programme also highlighted accessibility and inclusion initiatives and featured a partnership between APRC and the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation.

Mr Kumar said he was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the event and commended the organisers for developing practical resources that could benefit businesses throughout Fiji.

He reaffirmed NCCI’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives that equip its members with valuable knowledge, strengthen the business community and encourage informed participation in Fiji’s economic development.

02/09/2026

Congratulations to the people of Navua and to the Fijian Government for making this long overdue process finally take shape. Wananavu! Let us know if the business community needs help in setting up the Navua Chamber of Commerce & Industry so we can assist by sharing whatever knowledge we have on the matter.

GENESIS OF THE NAVUA TOWN COUNCIL LOGO

BULA SAUTU KA VUAVUAI

The new Navua Town Council logo carries with it the weight of the seal of our town, its history and its aspirations. It embodies the narrative of Fiji’s 12th town — where we have come from, who we are, and what we hope to become together.

The branding element of a circular logo is to enable wide usage of both the full colour and grey scale image across diverse formats including print and digital. The embossed traditional art design is a departure from colonial coat of arms style designs and signifies a bold new town with ownership of our arts and culture.

At its heart is the Navua River, the ancient sacred lifeline to our Vanua around which this community grew. Long before modern roads and bridges, the river was a highway for people, produce and trade. The Bilibili recalls those early journeys and the ingenuity of generations who used the river to connect the interior, the coast and the wider communities of Serua, Namosi and Beqa. It also speaks to Navua's enduring role in moving agricultural produce, including sugar, rice and other goods, into the marketplace.

Behind the river stand the mountains, forests and rising sun. The mountains anchor us to the land - Vanua - and the natural environment that sustains our communities. The rising sun marks this proclamation as a new beginning as a town — a promise of opportunity, progress and a brighter future for Navua.

The Soqe also known as the barking pigeon, barking imperial pigeon, or "Tabadamu", the Chiefly Traditional Totem Bird for the Vanua ko Nabukebuke, Namosi.

It reminds us that our natural heritage is part of our civic identity. Development must go hand in hand with respect for the river, land, forests and living environment that make Navua unique.

Our cultural foundations of the Vanua and of Fiji are carried by the tabua, mat and tapa. The tabua speaks of respect, relationships and tradition. The traditional mat for the Vanua ko Korolevu, Serua speaks of welcome, gathering and belonging.
The tapa carries heritage, creativity and knowledge from one generation to the next and is designed with inclusivity and community in mind. Together they remind us that becoming a town does not mean leaving our roots behind.

The logo embraces the communities that have helped build Navua. Motifs based on their Indian heritage acknowledge the deep contribution of the Indo-Fijian community to agriculture, commerce, education, business and civic life in Navua since their trials and tribulations of foundation builders of Navua during Girmit. Chinese motifs recognise the contribution of Chinese families and entrepreneurs to trade, enterprise and the economic life of Fiji. These symbols sit within one circle of our Itaukei and wider islander motifs because Navua's strength is not that we are all the same; it is that our different histories and contributions have become one shared community.

The bridge over the Navua represents that shared journey. It connects riverbanks, communities and generations. It connects tradition with modernity, yesterday with tomorrow, and our individual stories with the common story of Navua. It is also our link to the rest of Fiji - a reminder that Navua is part of the whole of Fiji.

And around it all is the circle — a symbol of unity, continuity and belonging. Of the eternal sacred Vanua and our pride in our land on which Navua - in ancient times known as Delainavua - sits.

At the base is our motto: "BULA SAUTU KA VUAVUAI"

It carries an aspiration that is fitting for this new town: peace, prosperity and fruitfulness. We want Navua to be a place where people can live in peace, work with dignity, build businesses, grow food, raise families, protect the environment and give their children greater opportunities than they inherited.

This logo belongs to all of us!

It belongs to the families who came before us, who travelled the river and worked the land. It belongs to those who built businesses, schools, homes and communities. It belongs to every culture that has added a thread to the fabric of Navua. And it belongs to the young people who will carry this town into the future.

Navua will now carry its boundary and your new fully fledged council office. And more than that as a new town it carries its people — their memories, their work, their culture, their hopes and their shared responsibility for tomorrow.

The new Navua Town Logo reminds us of that responsibility.

Its genesis gives us pride in where we come from and confidence in where we are going.

As a symbol of who we are, it stands for a Navua that is united in diversity, proud of its heritage, open to opportunity and change, resilient and proactive to challenges, and protective of its environment and determined to prosper together.

"BULA SAUTU, KA VUAVUAI".

May Navua flourish — blessed in the eternal sunshine of peace, prosperity and fruitfulness.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PEOPLE OF NAVUA!

02/09/2026

Dear members, here is a promotional alert from our corporate members, Carpenters Motors

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