One third of the Fiji Ports Terminal in Walu Bay, Suva cannot contain the heavy-laden machinery and containers.

Economy Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the port has become too small and there are discussions with the Asian Development Bank to help fund the relocation.

Speaking in Parliament today, Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji as a trans-shipment hub has seen an increase in the number of containers.

“In 2012 was 109,856 twenty-foot containers, in 2017 it was 157,430 which is forty-three percent increase. In 2018, it further increased by another 9000 containers – recording another six percent increase. Now obviously there’s lot more containers coming directly into Fiji which makes it a lot more attractive for other containers destined for other destinations to be brought to Fiji and then sent from Fiji to those ports.”  

The Minister says Fiji as a maritime nation needs to capitalize on a geographical location.

“On the first part of the wharf, you’ll never see any heavy machinery there because the foundations over the number of decades have become quite weak. So, in fact, it’s a lot more inexpensive to actually have a complete relocation. So we have been discussing in the past few years to develop a major master plan and we’re working with Asian Development Bank to have perhaps had a relocation.”

Fiji Ports Terminal has invested over ten million dollars on heavy machinery, handling equipment and other technology in the last five years.