Fletcher’s Fijian finese

Fletcher Construction entered Fiji in 1970 when the construction indus try was experiencing a boom with the expansion of the tourism industry.

During the early years, Fletcher worked in a joint venture with local com pany Reddy Construction and com menced- operations with a contract to build a brewery at Lautoka.

In the mid 19705, the industry experi enced a downturn. Reddy Fletcher how ever, secured a $F700,000 ($U5490,000) contract with the Fiji Sugar Corporation in 1975 to build a sugar conveyor tunnel at Lautoka, followed by further contracts with FSC for the SFS-million (SUS3.S - bulk sugar store in Lautoka and the SFI6-million (SUS 11.2-million) expansion to the Labasa mill. By 1980 Reddy Fletcher was well established on the construction scene at a time when the industry’s share of Gross Domestic Product had risen to 8.8 per cent.

Growth continued through the 1980 s and Fletcher was able to respond quickly and efficiently to rehabilitation work on hotels and island resorts following the cyclones in the mid 1980 s as well as offer

upgrading to the higher building stan

dards set by the insurance companies.

Following Fiji’s military coups and the associated political uncertainty, Fletcher purchased the assets of the joint venture outright. In a move to supplement the contracting hard tender market, Fletcher sought out new and innovative opportuni ties which led to successful partnering with Japanese companies on aid projects and in the negotiation of several new and significant projects. Prior to the coups in 1987 the business had a 23 per cent share of the building market. Through new business strategy in the lean years follow ing 1987, Fletcher experienced growth and progressively increased its share in the construction market to 40 per cent in 1988, when the industry share of GDP had fallen to a low point of 2.8 per cent.

The hard tender market continues to play an important role in Fletcher Construction’s Fiji business. However, quality, timely completion and value for money are becoming increasingly impor tant in the decision-making process of contract awards and Fletcher is currently in the process of attaining ISO 9002 accreditation, with Project Quality Plans in place for all current works in Fiji. ■

Building bridges...work in progress on the Sigatoka bridge picture: shailendra Kumar

The Denarau golf course