1. Chief Guest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics- Hon Professor Biman Prasad;
2. Founder and CEO of Pacific Specialist Healthcare – Mr Pravish Kumar;
3. Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Commander and Deputy Commander of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF)- Commodore Humphrey Tawake;
4. Our SCGF- Business Partners, CEO Mr Sharma, Management, and staff; and
5. Invited Guests.

Bula Vinaka, Good Morning and Namaste

First of all, allow me to thank the almighty and acknowledge the past, current, and future owners of this land, where we have gathered.

Thank you Hon. Deputy Prime Minister for your time, despite such a busy schedule.

Today marks another historic day for not only the Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) and Cane Growers but also for Fiji’s Health Sector. Why historic, as nowhere you can get a General Practitioner (GP) Fee of as low as $7.50 and 10% discounts on all other services that too, at a Private Hospital!   

Thank you, Mr Kumar, a true son of a cane farmer, for giving back to the farming community. Your genuineness in supporting this program is highly appreciated. The Agreement that will be signed today between PSH and SCGF will go a long way. We are honored and proud to be associated with PSH, an internationally renowned hospital, and this collaboration will reduce the burden on the growers.         

SCGF Loyalty Program

The industry has over 10,500 productive growers that have economies of scale and buying powers collectively. They collectively can and should have the ability to get the best offers. Given such consideration, the SCGF LOYALTY PROGRAM was launched this month, to reward the productive sugar cane growers.

The whole intention is to provide value-adding or extraordinary services in collaboration with some essential service and product partners that would make an impact on the lives of ordinary growers.  In this Program, growers do not necessarily have to be customers of SCGF but need to be producing sugar cane.

We have partners who supply Farm Machinery and Implements, Hardware, Medical Services & Supplies, Pharmacies, Mobile service providers (Vodafone), and Datec Fiji to name a few.

We are talking to our national airline – Fiji Airways, Petroleum Companies, and Supermarket Chains to come on board.

There will be no membership fee initially until March 2025 and the card is personal to growers.  These services have been fully operational since 15^th December 2024. 

At this juncture, it is worth mentioning from tomorrow, 1^st January 2025, SCGF’s overall interest rate reduces from 6% to 4.5% and hopefully this helps our growers. 

In 2025 – we looking at further enhancing our products and services, for the growers, looking at other investments and contributions for the welfare of the farming community, through the possible formation of the SCGF Charitable Trust that would further improve our corporate social responsibility.       

Conclusion 

With these words, thank you very much, Hon. DPM, and Mr Kumar, and wish you all a Happy New Year.

Thank you and Vinaka Vakalevu .

Ahemad Bhamji

Chairman