The Fijian Government is working closely with the Indian Government to upgrade our railway systems.

This is an effort to further assist cane farmers with efficient cane transportation.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, while receiving a courtesy call from the Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Padmaja in Suva yesterday – says the proposed project would be a massive development for Fiji.

In the meeting, Bainimarama says he had earlier met with India’s Minister for Railways regarding the proposed project.

The project, he says would certainly assist the farmers with transporting their cane to the sugar mills more effectively.

The PM while contributing to the recent 2019-2020 National Budget debate in Parliament, says a full report from the Indian Government would outline the blueprint for the massive upgrade of our national railway systems.

He says the new systems would make room for much larger loads of cane on the rail systems and at the same time reduce cane cartage costs even further.

Government is also providing cane harvesters, tractors and six-wheeler trucks to further assist cane farmers.

Bainimarama adds they will continue to prioritize the needs of cane farmers and reaffirmed his support to Fijians who make up the sugar industry.

Padmaja says the Indian Government had actively considered the report and was finalizing their budget estimates for the proposed project.

The sugar industry supports the livelihoods of more than 200,000 Fijians.

Efforts to grow the industry are captured in the National Development Plan and include increasing productive capacity, improving transportation, implementation of a new cane-quality payment system and the generation of additional revenue, among other things.