FHCL Commissions New Fleet and Strategic Plans
Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) has reached a major milestone with the commissioning of a new fleet of heavy machinery and the launch of key corporate documents that will guide the company’s future direction.
Speaking at the official event on May 14 2026, Chairman Mr. Iowane Naiveli described the occasion as a significant step forward for both FHCL and Fiji’s mahogany industry, noting that it is the first time in the company’s history that brand- new logging machinery has been procured to directly undertake harvesting operations.
The new fleet includes two D6 bulldozers, two 13-tonne excavators, and two 12- wheeler trucks. The investment is expected to strengthen FHCL’s operational capacity, improve efficiency, and accelerate the harvesting of Fiji’s mahogany resources. It also supports the company’s Strategic Corporate Intent 2026–2028, which aims to increase production from approximately 40,000 cubic metres to 80,000 cubic metres over the next three years.
Mr. Naiveli said the investment will also provide FHCL with direct operational experience and a better understanding of on-the-ground realities, including operational costs, terrain challenges, and productivity demands faced by contractors. He acknowledged contractors as important partners who continue to play a key role in supporting production and meeting market demand.
The Chairman also reaffirmed FHCL’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with landowners and forest-based stakeholders through continued collaboration with the Fiji Mahogany Trust and other industry partners.
As part of this commitment, FHCL plans to establish clearer contractual arrangements with landowners regarding the use and operation of machinery within their respective areas in the future. The initiative aims to improve transparency, strengthen long-term partnerships, and create additional economic opportunities for landowners beyond existing stumpage fees, lease payments, and land management
fees.
Mr. Naiveli said the approach would help empower landowners by supporting the development of corporate entities, cooperatives, and savings schemes, enabling greater participation in the mahogany industry and creating more sustainable long-term benefits for communities.
He emphasized that landowners remain the backbone of the industry, adding that their trust and partnership continue to be fundamental to FHCL’s success.
Alongside the commissioning of the machinery fleet, FHCL also launched four important corporate documents: the Statement of Corporate Intent 2026–2028, Business Plan 2026–2028, 5-Year Environmental Management Plan, and the FHCL Newsletter 2025.
According to Mr. Naiveli, these documents provide a clear roadmap for the company and reinforce its commitment to accountability, sound governance, environmental responsibility, and stakeholder engagement.
He added that the event represented more than the launch of machinery and documents; it reflected FHCL’s broader vision of building a stronger and more sustainable organisation that values partnerships, strengthens its operations, and plans responsibly for the future of Fiji’s mahogany industry.