Date:14/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/14/stories/2005101420120300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fiji for more investments from India

Special Correspondent

Laisenia Qarase arrives with delegation

BANGALORE: The Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, who arrived here with a 45-member business delegation on Thursday, said Fiji was looking at increased investments from India in various areas, including information technology.

Participating in a meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) here, Mr. Qarase said that there were many areas in which the two countries could work on.

The Fijian sugar mills will be modelled on the lines of Bannari Amman Sugars Limited — India's largest, modern and vertically integrated plant and which also produces sugar at the lowest cost in the country. It has been identified by the Sugar Technology Mission India as a plant that is an exemplary showcase of the Indian Sugar industry. Mr. Qarase is visiting the factory on Friday.

The Fiji Government and the Asian Development Bank have developed a reform plan, envisaged to bailout the ailing sugar industry. To this effect, the Government of Fiji has requested the Sugar Technology Mission (STM) of India to make recommendations for its revival.

The meeting was attended by leading exporters of Karnataka representing various sectors such as software, engineering, garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, leather, etc.

Mr. Qarase is here on a two-day visit focussed on IT and BT sectors. He would visit Infosys and Biocon as well on Friday.