Leading Fijian exporter Mark Halabe was the guest speaker for CQU Fiji's graduation ceremony on Monday, April 18, at Suva's Holiday Inn.

He addressed 35 graduates from the faculties of Business & Law; Arts, Health & Sciences; and Informatics & Communication, telling them they are valuable resources for the nation.

"I hope you will accept the challenge; take up the mantra of productivity improvements which will improve not only your personal life but also be good for the nation," he said.

"I hope you will remember that you have the ability to take on any challenge by perseverance, logic and optimism. For this I also must congratulate CQU for its handling of its problems over the last few years.".

Mr Halabe is Managing Director of Mark One Apparel (Fiji) Pty Ltd, which currently employs over 500 people, and director of Gloster Apparel Productions (Australia), which employs 90 people.

He won the Prime Minister's Exporter of the Year award in 2002 and is a member of the Prime Minister's Think Tank.

Mr Halabe is a current board member of the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji and past Vice President of the Fiji Employers Federation. He was Director of the 2003 South Pacific Games with the responsibility of the management of the Games Village. He is also Chairman of the Productivity and Quality Training Department and Chairman of the Manufacturing Training Advisory Council.

Other VIPs at the ceremony will include CQU's Chancellor Rennie Fritschy and Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard.