Bula Vinaka, Namaste and a very good morning to you all.
I wish to acknowledge the past, present and emerging owners of this land and thank them for allowing us to gather here today.
- Momo na iTaukei Vidilo and or Representative
- The Chief Guest – Minister for Finance, Hon. Esrom Immanuel
- Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry – Hon Tomasi Tunabuna
- Asian Development Bank’s –
o Ms. Uzma Altaf Gender Specialist and
o Lisette Cipriano Principal Digital Finance Specialist - Project Partner- Managing Director of Computer 1-Mr. Avinesh Krishna.
- Sugar Cane Growers Fund Board, CEO, Management and staff
- Invited Guest and Valued Cane Growers,
- Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a privilege and a great honor for me, on behalf of the Board of the Sugar Cane Growers Fund, to address on this important occasion.
Today, the Sugar Cane Growers Fund will be launching three services:
- Document Management System;
- SCGF Chatbot; and
- Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion – GEDSI Framework.
The Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Institutions must “move forward” and we need to keep up ourselves with latest developments so that our clients and growers receive the same level of services as any other institutions. SCGF must therefore change with them to meet expectations.
The notation that we cannot continue doing things simply because “this is how we have always done it.” This mindset belongs to the past and more important when the industry is going to change.
The SCGF of tomorrow must be more Agile, more Innovative, more Transparent and more Responsive to the sugar industry.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS NO LONGER AN OPTION
The Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The launch of the Document Management System is an important step in our institutional transformation.
The Document Management System (DMS) will strengthen how we manage Information, Records, Approvals and Institutional Knowledge and Real Time access by our growers.
But more importantly, it will strengthen Accountability.
Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen, intuitional transformation is one EMBRACING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and SCGF is doing so.
The Launching of the SCGF Chatbot takes us another step forward.
Artificial intelligence is no longer something that belongs only to large corporations or advanced economies’ It is already changing the way people Access Information and services around the world and SCGF adopts the same.
INCLUSION MUST BE AT THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT
Our third initiative – Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Framework – carries an equally important message. We must acknowledge the Indirect Contributions of our business partners – Business Link Pacific for providing Technical Support and Guidance on this Framework.
Our Sugar Cane Growers are diverse group. They include
Men and women.
Young and older growers.
People with different abilities.
Families with different circumstances.
People living in different communities and facing different challenges.
Our policies must recognize that diversity.
The GEDSI Framework provides SCGF with a stronger foundation to ensure that gender equality, disability and social inclusion are considered in the way we design our Policies, Products and Services.
Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen, OUR GROWERS ARE THE REASON WE EXIST
Despite the challenges facing the sugar industry, we have continued to introduce practical products and services that put growers first.
Today, I am proud to highlight recent achievements:
- Reduced Lending Interest Rates to Just 3.95% achieved without any government subsidy or funding, making SCGF one of the most affordable lenders available to growers.
- More competitive fees and charges, reducing the cost of accessing finance and easing the financial burden on farming families, including probate fees discounted by 50%
- TISA Mortgage Protection Insurance, providing peace of mind for growers and their families. In the last 12 months alone, 15 growers’ outstanding loans have been settled through this cover.
- Sun Insurance General House Insurance, also safeguarding Growers’ homes and assets against Unforeseen events and natural disasters.
- Lower Equity requirements and more flexible lending policies, especially for youths and women.
- A Savings Scheme, encouraging Growers to build and develop a savings culture and prepare for future investments and Unexpected Events.
These are services that our growers have been deprived of for far too long. The SCGF Act, in its Current Form, restricts the Fund from directly providing a number of these Essential Services. Therefore, we have had to leverage strategic partnerships with Third Parties—not because we Lack the Capacity or Ambition, but because we remain committed to finding solutions that are in the best interests of our growers. At this juncture, I must acknowledge Asian Development Bank to review our strategic plan.
Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Growers Fund has its origins in 1946. As we approach 8 decades of service to Fiji’s sugar cane growers, we must ask ourselves: Where should the Fund be today?
By now, the Growers Fund should have evolved into a fully-fledged Community and Growers Bank—an Institution capable of providing comprehensive financial services to farmers and rural communities. This vision has been raised in various reports and recommendations over the years. It is a vision that should have been pursued with greater Urgency.
The sustainability of the Sugar Industry cannot be the responsibility of Growers alone. It must be a shared National Objective—one in which growers, Government, financial institutions, industry stakeholders and Development partners all play their part.
PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
Today also demonstrates the importance of partnership. SCGF cannot transform itself in isolation.
We acknowledge the support of the Government and, in particular, the Line Ministry and Ministry of Finance and other relevant Government agencies.
We also acknowledge the valuable support of the Asian Development Banks team in India (Mr. Amit Tendulkar – Senior Digital Finance Specialist and Mr. Jignesh Ashar- Specialist Senior International Consultant -Digital Finance) and Reserve Bank of Fiji, whose assistance has enabled these important initiatives to move from concept to reality. I must also acknowledge Mr Lagi Fisher, a ADB Consultant for the guidance.
Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen in conclusion
The launch is not the destination, it is beginning of these products
- The Document Management System must become part of our everyday culture of accountability.
- The Chatbot must become a practical tool that improves the grower’s experience.
- The GEDSI Framework must become part of the way we make decisions and Deliver Services.
Finally, I thank the Chief Guest, Hon Minister for Finance, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways & Sugar Industry and you all.
Vinaka Vakalevu