The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) and Fiji Islands Revenue & Customs Authority (FIRCA) have jointly announced the development of FIRCA’s New Headquarters Building at the FNPF’s 2-acre block located at the corner of Queen Elizabeth Drive and Ratu Sukuna Road in Nasese.

It is a multi-million dollar joint venture project with FNPF developing an office accommodation and FIRCA leasing it on a long-term basis.

The development will comprise of 3 interconnected buildings spread over the 2-acres, with a total office-space of approximately 130,000sqft and accommodating over 90 car parks. Construction of the buildings is expected to commence before the end of this year and be completed by December 2006.

FIRCA CEO Sila Kotobalavu said, “FIRCA has embarked on a major project of consolidating all its offices and personnel into a single dedicated building in Suva. This strategy will enable the Authority to rationalize existing resources, capitalize on possible synergies from all our Suva based operations.”

Mr. Kotobalavu also said, that “the project will involve relocating 5 different offices to a Corporate Headquarters and about 500 management & staff as well as customers counters, meeting rooms and so forth.”

The challenge then according to Mr. Kotobalavu is to develop our New Head Office as a landmark building in Suva with building design that is artistic and taking full advantage of the Nasese sea-front environment making it a visually attractive landmark building in Suva for a very, very long time. More importantly, as the Head Office of FIRCA, Mr. Kotobalavu said that it must clearly depict our corporate vision – “to be the premier revenue collection and border management agency in the region.”

Also, Mr. Kotobalavu said that their “existing office environment is based on the 1960s and 1970s concepts that perhaps effective at that time, but in no way reflecting the way our business should be undertaken in the new millennium. The traditional office layouts with desk based systems, multiplicity of offices constructed against the window walls and existing work practices are contrary to the current best practice principles and quality outcomes”.

The challenge therefore for us, Mr. Kotobalavu said is to “design the new fit-out/layout that is more open and addresses key elements such as furniture facilities, communication, accommodation and challenges for the future. It must be artistic and aesthetically pleasing that will create a sense of belonging and expressing a corporate entity with the capacity for individual expression. It should promote good work practice and be conducive to learning and reaching personal and corporate goals.”

He further said the “the current work environment is very business like. Today, workers want to be surrounded with comfort since we spend at least 8 hours a day in our workplace. Workers feel the need to personalize our space and make it comfortable as possible and desire flexibility.”

In this light, Mr. Kotobalavu believes that the key in achieving success for this major project lies largely with FIRCA and FNPF driving the project with a fresh approach to project management and professional property management. This eventually means looking for new directions and innovative office concepts that will be tailor-made for FIRCA. As for project management, this would involve planning an integrated approach, incorporating all relevant areas of FIRCA, budget planning, controlling of the total cost of project within budget, extensive consultation and so forth.

“We are pleased that we have teamed up with Fiji’s premium commercial landlord and we look forward to moving into our new premises in December 2006 or very early 2007,” says Sila Kotobalavu.

FNPF’s CEO, Olota Rokovunisei, thanked FIRCA and its Board for accepting the FNPF’s proposal and bid for the building and said that this project would be unique not only for the Fund but also for Fiji in that the complex will be the largest building occupied by a single-tenant in the country.

“We are very excited about this project for several reasons”, he said, “firstly, this development will allow FNPF the opportunity to develop this prime vacant piece of real estate and with the extent of FIRCA’s requirements, we are able to fully maximize the development plot ratio available to us. Secondly, we will be growing our property portfolio, which is part of our immediate strategic investment move. Last but certainly not the least is the fact that we have secured a very reputable tenant on a long-term lease arrangement and this will result in and ensure attractive returns to our members”.

Mr Solomone Sila Kotobalavu
Chief Executive Officer
Fiji Islands Revenue & Customs Authority

Mr Olota Rokovunisei
Chief Executive Officer
Fiji National Provident Fund