Hari Punja, OF, OBE (born 1936) is an Indo-Fijian businessman and Chairman of Hari Punja Group of Companies. Hari Punja and Sons Limited is a very diversified (and probably the largest) company in Fiji.[1]
Hari Punja was born in Cuvu, Sigatoka, Fiji and received his education in Fiji and Australia. He trained as a chemical engineer. Punja joined the business in 1960. He has served as a mayor of Lautoka[2] and on a number of prestigious boards such as Fiji Broadcasting Commission and Fiji Sugar Corporation.[2] He served as a Senator[2] from 1996 to 1999.
Following the passage of the Media Industry Development Decree 2010 by the military regime, Punja resigned from the board of Fiji Television[3] and sold his stake in radio company Communications Fiji Limited.[4]
Honors
Punja has been bestowed with many credentials and honors. Some of these include:
- Order of the British Empire (OBE)[2]
- Justice of the Peace (JP)
- Order of Fiji: Bestowed by the President of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kaisese Mara
- The Fiji National Millennium Committee recognized Hari Punja as an outstanding contributor in shaping the nation of Fiji during the 20th Century
- He was named as one of the 10 most successful businessmen living outside India in "The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora" (2006) by Professor Dr. Brij Lal (Australian National University)
- Punja was rated the 6th most influential person in the Pacific region through a poll carried out by the Australian-based Pacific Magazine.
References
- ↑ "Be rich to help poor: Punja". Fiji Times. January 25, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- 1 2 3 4 Stewart Firth, Daryl Tarte, University of the South Pacific (2001). Twentieth century Fiji. USP Solutions, University of the South Pacific. p. 198. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Punja resigns to observe media decree". Fiji Sun. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ↑ "Punja sells radio company shares". Fiji Sun. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2023.