Minister urges action on mahogany

There is a need to develop the mahogany industry to ensure its economic sustainability and to generate maximum benefit to the landowners, shareholders and the public, says the Minister of State for National Planning.

The Minister of State said mahogany had the potential to become one of the largest contributors to the country's economy.

The Minister of State said that Fijian people needed to be trained to add value to such a high quality commodity adding that Fiji should be exporting mahogany cabinets, doors, tables and chairs with Fiji's own unique designs and styles. He referred to the success of Pacific Green which specialises in furniture made from coconut timber.

The Minister of State said that there was a need to train indigenous landowners to enable them to effectively participate in the mahogany industry and in the entire process from logging, loading, cartage, milling and downstream activities.

He added that landowners - due to lack of capital and appropriate skills - could not participate meaningfully to derive maximum benefit from their valuable resource.

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