Indian Newslink April 15, 2016 Digital Edition

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8 FIJILINK April 15, 2016 Star entrepreneur keen to connect with Fiji Venkat Raman venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz The growing importance of Fiji as a viable and vibrant business destination has encouraged an increasing number of New Zealanders to explore existing and emerging opportunities in the South Island nation. The country’s return to democracy with equal rights to all Fijians, incentives to promote foreign direct investment and commercial establishments, the government’s all-out efforts to promote the return of Fijians back home and most important of all, the need for better infrastructure are all factors that have begun to attract foreigners, especially New Zealanders and former Fiji citizens. Youth initiatives While many have reconnected with their homeland in recent years, a few younger members of the Fijian community here have shown initiative and enterprise by venturing into hitherto little known areas in Fiji. Among them is Sheetal Rana, Director, Star Global Solutions which provides Call Centre, Tele-marketing, accounting and taxation and other business services in Fiji and New Zealand. The company is less than a year old (established in September 2015) but has already begun to attract clients on both sides of the Pacific. Sheetal Rana A section of guests at the ‘Fiji Business Dinner’ on March 21 in Auckland Born and raised in a family of Fijian origin with simplicity, honesty and integrity as the motivating factors in life and business, Sheetal is a chip of the old block. A graduate in Computing Systems with 12 years of professional experience, she realised the need for connecting Fiji with New Zealand through an efficient networking system. Overwhelming need “It was while working with various multinational corporations that I recognised an overwhelming need for efficiency at the most basic level. This encouraged me to find a reliable and simple solution that could be applicable to multiple business models. Hence, I decided to establish ‘Star Global Solutions’ to provide a variety of services,” she said. Based in Nadi, Fiji,the company specialises in outsourcing services, with a focus on administrative, customer service, and IT sectors.Working with businesses in Australia and New Zealand, it provides effective solutions in a number of areas. “Our competitive rates make Star Solutions a cost-effective option for companies to rely on this market while boosting growth and opportunities in Fiji’s workforce. Our vision is to provide the best outsourcing services to international clients. It is clear enough to keep us focused and broad enough to make us adapt to each of our clients’ missions and values,” Sheetal said. She believes that working in Fiji and New Zealand has given a positive mental attitude and practical experience of ground realities, business practices and market intelligence for successful delivery of services to clients in both countries. As a young entrepreneur, she brings freshness and new ideas into business. As a member of a highly successful and cultured family, she brings a high level of credibility and respectability to her business. NZ-Fiji connection Sheetal was among the few speakers at the ‘Fiji Indian Business Dinner’ organised by Indian Newslink and Radio Tarana on Monday, March 21, 2016 at Pullman Hotel in Auckland. She found that the initiative can become a ‘permanent platform’ for exchange of business information, experiences and joint exploration of commercial and other potential in Fiji. “There are exciting developments occurring in Fiji and the government is encouraging the private sector to participate in the country’s economic and social progress. As person of Fijian origin, I am keen to work with businesses and investors to promote the best interests of Fiji,” she said. As reported in our April 1, 2016 issue, New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay, who was the Chief Guest at the dinner, said that he and his government were working out strategies and plans for a more constructive and useful engagement with Fiji. “I hope to visit Fiji soon and meet with the officials and businesses there,” he said. Among the services provided by Star Global Solutions are Call Centre Services, Data Entry, Data Processing, Accounting Services including filing PAYE and GST returns, telemarketing, advertising and marketing. As a part of its support to the victims of Tropical Cyclone Winston in existing and new account holders. This facility will be available to all except business remittances.
April 15, 2016 FIJILINK 9 Kiwi generosity augments Fijian efforts in Cyclone relief Furniture donated by Air New Zealand Schools damaged by TC Winston- Pictures by Ahemad Bhamji Filimone Waqabaca (second from right) and Harish Lodhia (middle) and others with containers bound for St John’s College, Ovalau Ahemad Bhamji Indian Newslink and Honorary Consul for Fiji in Auckland Harish Lodhia were major sources of strength in sending 12 containers of donated furniture to re-equip many schools that were damaged by the Tropical Cyclone Winston on February 21, 2016. Naomi McKinnon, a Fijian resident contacted this newspaper after reading the front page report in its March 15, 2016 issue. Marty Forsman, Sustainability Manager at Air New Zealand, who had also read the report, was motivated to offer his support and assistance. Destructive Winston Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most destructive hurricane on record in the Southern Hemisphere, caused widespread devastation to large parts of Fiji on February 21, 2016. A week after the Cyclone, I visited Fiji and travelled from Nadi through to Rakiraki. I noticed that a large number of schools were severely damaged, and many had lost their roofs, damaging desks, chairs, blackboards, and other furniture and contents. I carried out an assessment of 15 schools that were badly affected, and met with the relevant people at each school, and made a list of their needs. All of them wanted teaching to resume as soon as possible, and although major repairs would take time, the immediate needs were furniture, stationery, books and school uniforms. On my return to New Zealand in early March, I suggested to the International Congress of Fiji Inc (ICFI) Board about these needs and received the support of the board members to proceed with the necessary tasks. The Board also generously allocated NZ$ 12,500 for packing and transportation and an additional amount of F$ 10,000 for meeting various related expenses in Fiji. Attorney General’s support I met Fiji’s Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum,who was visiting Auckland and received his support for the project. Finance Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Mohammed Jabid issued tax and duty exemptions, greatly facilitating our efforts. We obtained 12 freight-free shipping containers to Fiji, and with the funds approved by ICFI, filled them with the donated furniture. The containers were leaving Auckland for Fiji at press time – two to Suva and 10 to Lautoka. Mr Lodhia and I will be in Fiji on April 17 to ensure delivery of the furniture to the designated schools. We are grateful to the following organisations and individual for their support as donors, support in managing the logistics and volunteering to collect the furniture items and help in their shipment. Their solidarity and timely assistance have given us the confidence that New Zealander will also rise to the occasion when there is a need. We are grateful to the following: 1. Air New Zealand (and Mr Marty Forsman) for donating office furniture (10 containers) 2.Tamaki College for donating 120 students’ desks, two office tables, one bookshelf and two whiteboards 3. Parnell Primary School (Anna Hedstrom) for donating 90 students’ desks; 4. Ninety students’ chairs, four office tables, two whiteboards 5. Glen Innes Primary School for donating 20 students’ desks, 20 students’ chairs; 6. Panmure Bridge Primary School for donating 20 students’ desks, 40 students’ chairs, six assorted office tables, two steel filing cabinets, 15 cartons assorted children’s books 7. Neptune Pacific Agency (Pacific Forum Line) (and Mr Michael Swan) - for donating 12 containers and freight from Auckland to Suva/Lautoka 8. Crawford & Walker Custom Brokers (Mr Andrew Crawford) - for a discounted rate on cartage of 12 containers 9. UB Freight (Mr Rohit Narayan) - for custom clearance in Fiji 10. Tahi Pacific Ltd- Ashon Ventures, Ashabhai’s, Prakash Patel) for paying the balance of cartage costs of 12 Containers 11. Naomi McKinnon (former Fiji school teacher at Gospel High School) - for arranging and organising furniture from schools throughout Tamaki 12. Pranil Lal, Hector Zinc, Tito Daurewa and former students of St Johns College, Ovalau and their team for packing two containers and arranging delivery from Suva to Levuka 13. Harish Lodhia, Honorary Fiji Consul in Auckland for facilitating and arranging with Air New Zealand, Neptune Pacific, Crawford & Walker, Parnell Primary School and his overall support 14. Four and Rotary (Azhar Bhamji and his crew) for helping pack 10 containers 15. Michael Swan and Neptune Pacific Agency (Pacific Forum Line), Andrew Crawford of Crawford & Walker Custom Brokers 16. Rohit Narayan from UB Freight, Prakash Patel from Tahi Pacific Ltd (Ashon Ventures/ Ashabhai's) 17. Radio Tarana and Indian Newslink for media coverage Ahemad Bhamji is former President of International Congress of Fiji Inc and a community worker. We will continue our coverage of relief efforts in the ensuing issues.
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