“Fiji magic” was on full display on 10 December 2021. It was not about rugby, for which the island nation is world famous, but a celebration of productivity and quality. In a ceremony attended by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, Fiji held a two-in-one event: the 22nd Fiji Business Excellence Awards (FBEAs); and presentation of the APO Regional Award.

The FBEAs started as the Fiji Quality Awards in 1998 and morphed into their current form in 2014 following a rebranding initiative. They now stand among the premier awards in the country, with President Katonivere as the patron, and Fiji’s NPO, the National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC), Fiji National University, serving as its secretariat. A total of 270 awards have been presented to around 131 candidates over the last 20 years.

President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere of Fiji (L) presenting the APO
Regional Award to H.E. Minister Jone Usamate.

Productivity shone brightly at the gala evening with the APO Regional Award presented to H.E. Jone Usamate, Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, for his outstanding contributions to productivity in the Asia-Pacific in the areas of policy formulation, strategic thinking, leadership, and management.

A widely respected champion of productivity, Minister Usamate was NPO Head and APO Alternate Director for Fiji for many years prior to his ministerial appointments. This was the first APO Regional Award presented to Fiji, honoring the more than three decades of the NTPC’s association with the Asia-Pacific productivity movement.

Vinaka! The APO Secretariat congratulates APO Regional Awardee Minister Usamate, the NTPC, and the people of Fiji for their inspiring journey of excellence.