Bebi Electronics Wins Fiji's Unique Exporter of the Year

Rosie Tours Wins Award

By TIMOCI VULA

Rosie Tours is the 2006 DHL Prime Minister's Exporter of the Year, it was announced at the Sofitel Resort & Spa in Denarau at the weekend. This is Rosie Tours’ second win for the main award after winning it at the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort on Yanuca last year.
In his speech after the announcement of DHL as winner, Rosie Tours managing director Tony Whitton said: “We're export dreams and we want to provide holiday destination with pristine beauty, friendliness and our warm culture.”
Highlighting a fundraising event on Friday night at the Sofitel Resort & Spa for children with cancer, he said a quarter of a million dollars was raised.
“I saw last night (Friday) how important it is to be part of the tourism industry and I saw the difference the tourism industry can do for Fiji, not only in terms of employment but also to show that as an industry, we can give back to the community," said Mr Whitton.
He said Fiji had a vibrant and dynamic industry which continued to make a difference in the country.
"It continues to earn the badly needed foreign exchange into this country," he added.
Mr Whitton said by the end of next year, "we hope to be a $1billion industry in terms of foreign exchange".
On the same breath, he called on the Fiji Islands Trades and Investment Bureau (FTIB) to continue to ardently promote small agricultural farmers for efficient and quality supply of fresh produce.
"This is because it will also improve tremendously our balance of trade," said Mr Whitton.
Other awards included:
2006 Tropik Wood Industries Forestry Exporter Award - Fiji Hardwood Corporation Ltd
2006 Hangton Pacific Fisheries Exporter Award - J Hunter Pearls Fiji
2006 Fiji Agromarketing Exporter Award - Nadi Bay Herbs (Fiji) Ltd
2006 Fijian Holdings Indigenous Exporter Award - Cakauni-Ika Fishing Co. Ltd
2006 Fiji Water Exporter to USA Award - Amazon Industries Ltd
2006 Flour Mills of Fiji Exporter to Pacific Islands Award - Goodman Fielder
2006 Fiji-Australia Business Council Exporter to Australia Award - Flour Mills of Fiji
2006 Air NZ Cargo Exporter to NZ Award - Mahen Exports
2006 Vinod Patel Emerging Exporter Award - Ram’s Valley Fresh Produce
2006 RC Manubhai Group of Companies Unique Exporter Award - Bebi Electronics Ltd
2006 Colonial Fiji Group Small Exporter Award - Mechanical Services Ltd
2006 HFC Medium Exporter Award - Standard Concrete Industries Ltd
2006 ANZ Large Exporter Award - Amazon Industries Ltd and
2006 Westpac Services Award - William and Goslings.

Exporters launch national strategy

The National Export Strategy containing recommendations on improving the local export sector was launched on Saturday.
This strategy document identifies 13 specific areas requiring attention – as it outlines respective objectives, strategies and performance indicators as well as agencies responsible for spearheading implementation of necessary measures.
However, Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau (FTIB) Board chairman Joe Singh said this was the Government's initiative to address declining exports and it could always do with assistance from the private sector. “This is Government's strategy at the macro-level but its success is dependent on the private sector making it happen,” said Mr Singh.
He said this strategy would guide and direct efforts of the Government and the private sector in boosting the local economy.
“Being the drivers and engine room of our economy, will be instrumental in realising Government's pursuit of export growth. We need your support and given your support and demonstrated skills and commitment, I can say with confidence that will be forthcoming with renewed vigour," he told participants and guests at the awards.

Transform operations, PM tells exporters

Local exporters around the country must transform their operations to remain competitive in the local and global economy.
“There is no other option,” he said.
Mr Qarase made this statement in his opening address at the 2006 DHL Exporter of the Year Awards held at the Sofitel Resort & Spa at Denarau in Nadi on Saturday.
He acknowledged the appropriateness of the theme – Export Competitiveness: Our Key to Growth – saying it had come at a time when Fiji is suffering an erosion of preferential access in traditional export market.
"The alarm bells have sounded long and loud, and their message is very clear," said Mr Qarase.
"The challenges of increasing globalisation call for an urgent review of our approach to export markets. All new bilateral and regional trade agreements, for example, are to be WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible."
Mr Qarase said the need to improve the local export situation overall could not be overstated, adding "Fiji exports have been in decline. We must take immediate and concerted action”.
“With the agreed and comprehensive national strategy to guide and assist us, and given a strong and united commitment by all public and private sector players, I am in no doubt we will succeed in raising our export performance to new heights,” he said.
On the awards, Mr Qarase said it distinguished Fiji exporters who were making a special contribution to export development, and the growth of the local economy as it strived for professional excellence.

Environmentally friendly company beats the odds
20-Nov-2006

Bebi (pronounced mbambi with English spelling) Electronics was founded in 2004 at Fawn Harbour, Vanua Levu, by Michael Homsany, Kendra Pinsker, and Joe Prasad. It's purpose (besides putting food on our table), is to provide employment to the village of Nakobo and its environs without disturbing the traditional way of life within the village.

In respect to the pristine environment, Bebi Electronics has chosen production methods that do not produce industrial waste. Being 40km from the nearest power line, most of our production electrical is powered by solar panels. In addition, for their exclusive resin, the company utilises (cleaned) used beverage containers for the actual mixing.

Homsany said that Bebi was founded and registered with the FTIB in 2004 with a primary goal to make money. Their secondary goals, (which are dependant on success in the primary), is to create jobs in a rural area using means that are not destructive of either the physical or social ecology of Fiji.

"The company at this time specialises in highly rugged, low energy consumption lighting products, marketed mostly to the recreational boating market, but which is also suitable for off-grid lighting, which is common to Fiji.

We also have under development affordable, reliable, rugged rural lighting products and also some micro-controller products.

As for our employees, this is dependant on our level of orders. At this time, we have a total of six employees working, the norm is seven."

Bebi like other businesses also have some drawbacks that deter the company from developing or meeting their targets.

Homsany said, "Our greatest weakness is that we are in direct competition with two of the largest lighting companies in the world, both based in Germany. We are also competing against Chinese manufacturing.

On the other hand, our strength is that our product is superior in quality too that produced in both Germany and China, but the pricing levels of them are similar to the junk produced in China.

Our Internet marketing and customer service is significantly better than the norm.
We respond to all product inquiry/order emails within six hours: Not six working hours, six elapsed hours. Most emails are replied to within four hours. And yes, this means never getting a full night's sleep or taking week-ends off!

Bebi relies heavily on an internet marketing tactic called 'viral marketing'. We participate in Internet discussion boards so as to establish our credibility with future purchasers. We do not 'hard sell' our products, we 'soft sell' our expertise. Thus, when a customer has a need for our products, they are more likely to buy from us. None of this is easy; all of it is just plain, hard work."

The company was the proud recipient of the RC Manubhai Group of Companies Unique Exporter Award at the DHL Prime Ministers Exporter of the Year Awards. According to Homsany, the win was 'very much a pleasant surprise' as this was the first time they have entered the awards.

"To be actually among Fiji's biggest competitors in the export market is a big challenge for us. And to be awarded is the 'icing on the cake' for Bebi and we are very proud of it." So, just what is the secret to Bebi's success? Or what has been the main motivation for Bebi as a company?

"Bebi's largest assets are intangible. Our designs are unique in Fiji and the rest of the world and second to none in the industry. The other is the knowledge of Internet Marketing skills and general business acumen developed after working in a variety of businesses in the Pacific Islands over the past 20 years.

Our main motivation has been to prove that a technology business can be established in a rural area of Fiji. Unlike other exporters in Fiji, we are not an extraction business. Not one natural resource of Fiji leaves Fiji (including the dignity of Fijians) when we ship our product.

There is an area of the electronics business, which we are part of, which is called low volume, high margin engineering and manufacturing. Unlike what most consumers consider, such as TV's, DVD's, boom boxes, etc., these products are produced by as little as the tens of units and attraction of firms like these can have a great benefit to Fiji."

He added, "Unlike volume production, freight costs are a very tiny portion of the total cost. The relative isolation of Fiji is thus not an impediment.

Instead, the largest cost is that of actually developing the product. Because of the high quality of life in Fiji, especially in the rural areas, the talent needed to develop the products can be hired at a lower cost, and can also be hired from the 'best and the brightest' in Fiji, who are currently leaving the country for employment opportunities elsewhere.

The labour cost per unit is insignificant in relationship to the actual purchase price, but the total of the infusion of wages is quite attractive to small communities."

"Bebi has shown that it is not only possible, but advantageous, to train people from within small rural communities, as they have no 'bad habits' to unlearn. Contrary to racist comments, Fijians are very diligent, extremely hard workers. But, the work place must be structured around the needs of the community, rather than visa-versa," Homsany stressed.

By KELERA DAKUNIMATA