A major aim of the Fijian government is to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.
The majority shares were later owned by the Fijian government.
A military coup deposed the Fijian government on 5 December 2006.
He called on the Fijian government to continue to pressure its Vanuatu counterparts.
At F$234 million, it was the most expensive project ever initiated by the Fijian government.
The Fijian government has refused to label the men "mercenaries", however.
The incident embarrassed the Fijian government and threatened to strain relations between the two countries.
This was raised following a request from the Fijian government for military forces to support local police dealing with striking labourers and farmers.
Even a wholly indigenous Fijian government would not be safe, he said.
The same year, the elected Fijian government was deposed in a military coup.
