Hon. Laisenia Qarase - Launching of new Informatics computer software by Sun Insurance

Fiji, 3rd February 2006 -

Hon. Laisenia Qarase
Prime Minister and Minister for Fijian Affairs, Culture & Heritage, Minister for National Reconciliation & Unity; ALTA & Sugar Industry Reforms

Remarks at the launching of new computer software by Sun Insurance

Harbour Front Building,Rodwell Road,Suva

Thursday February 2nd, 2006, 6.30pm

Mr. Archie Seeto & Members of the Board and Executives of Sun Insurance,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good evening everyone.

Thank you Padam. And thank you, Archie, for inviting me to join you for this celebration, and permitting me to say a few words.

I am glad of the chance to hold up your company as an example of the success that can be achieved in Fiji today, by local business people alert to the opportunities, and ready to respond to the needs of the market.

It was about seven years ago that a small group of experienced Fiji investors took over the operations of National MBf Insurance, and founded a NEW company: Sun Insurance.
Sun is representative of a new generation of insurance companies, customer-focused, and run along modern lines. The company may have its headquarters here in one of Suva’s historic buildings, but its mindset is very much of today.

Sun Insurance quickly gained customer confidence, and rose to prominence. Today, it is one of Fiji’s leading property and casualty insurers, and our largest locally-owned general insurance company.

Among its investments is a retail and commercial complex at Valelevu, built at a cost of $2-million.

I commend the company’s principals on their original vision, and on their commitment to realizing their dream.

There are a number of reasons why Sun Insurance is successful, and high among these is professionalism. This is also a company that keeps abreast of developments, and will take on board new ways of doing things, where there are good reasons for doing so.

We see an example of this in today’s commissioning of state-of-the-art computer software, representing a further investment of about $1-million.

We have with us this evening the founder and managing director of Informatics, the manufacturers of this software. Mr Wickramasinghe will be speaking to us in a moment.

His company is the largest software house in Sri Lanka.
Its procedures and practices are ISO 9001 certified, and assessed at Level 4 of the Compatibility Maturity Model of the Software Engineering Institute.

In case I’ve lost anyone, these are very good credentials!

Informatics has been engaged in software exports since the late 1980s. I was interested to learn that joint ventures have been established with leading IT organizations in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Australia, to develop new software there also.

You will know that IT is a sector my Government has identified as an area for growth, and the creation of new jobs. We have policies and incentives to achieve this. The latest measures were announced in the 2006 Budget.

Companies seeking to sharpen their competitive edge will increasingly look to computer technology to help provide it.

I congratulate Sun Insurance on its latest advance.

We can be sure this is money well-spent. It is certainly another indication of confidence in Fiji, by investors in a position to know, and who continue to build on their commitment to this country.

Again Archie, thank you for inviting my comments.

Ladies and gentlemen, vinaka vakalevu.

God bless you.

For more information
InfoIns Site – www.info-ins.com