Twenty eight years after he opened the FIJI Water bottling plant, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka revisited the Yaqara facility – and this time it was to commission the $140 million expansion of the Ra factory.

And the PM took Coalition Government Ministers and dignitaries on a walk down memory lane in his speech at the event yesterday.

“The last time I was here at the FIJI Water complex was way back in 1996 during my first term as Prime Minister when I was invited to open your original water bottling plant,” he said.

“Now, 28 years later, I’m glad to see how this iconic and global brand – FIJI Water – continues to grow in leaps and bounds as today we mark yet another milestone.

“Who would have imagined back then that water sourced from here in Yaqara would become the number one premium bottled water in the United States, and also exported to some of the most exclusive resorts, hotels and restaurants across 60 countries around the world.”

The $140m upgrade is expected to increase capacity by as much as 47% over the next few years while achieving a 10% increase in energy efficiency and 10% less cardboard in packaging.