Fijian finesse

Fletcher's Fijian finesse

Fletcher Construction entered Fiji in 1970 when the con

struction industry was experi

encing a boom with the expansion of tourism. In the early years, Fletcher worked in a joint venture with local company Reedy Construction and commenced operations with a contract to build a brewery at Lautoka.

In the mid 19705, the industry experi enced a downturn. Reddy Fletcher however, secured a $F700,000 (U 55490,000) 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-million) expansion to the Labasa mill.

By 1980 Reddy Fletcher was well estab lished in construction at a time when the indus try'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 standards set by the insurance companies. Following Fiji’s military coups and the associated political uncertainty, Fletcher purchased the assets of the joint venture out right. To supplement the contracting hard tender market, Fletcher sought out new and innovative opportunities which led to suc

cessful partnering with Japanese companies

on aid projects and in the negotiation of sev eral 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 following 1987, Fletcher experi enced growth and progressively increased its share 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 com

pletion and value for money are becoming increasingly important in the decision-mak ing process of contract awards and Fletcher Construction has attained ISO 9002 accred itation. with Project Quality Plans in place for all current works in Fiji. ■