SOUTH Pacific-focused resource group Golden Rim Resources has appointed Craig Mackay as managing director to lead the company"s assessment of further growth opportunities in Fiji while simultaneously advancing a major drilling program at its Sabeto Gold Project, near Fiji"s capital Nadi.

Melbourne-based Craig Mackay is a geologist with 20 years' professional experience, most recently as Golden Rim's exploration director. Prior to joining Golden Rim six years ago, he was a Senior Geologist with AngloGold Australasia Ltd.

Craig Mackay's appointment comes as Golden Rim steps up exploration at the Sabeto Gold Project, where the company has started a 3000 metre diamond drilling program targeting copper and gold mineralisation in a highly prospective region hosting several significant projects, including the 10 million ounce Vatukoula gold deposit.

While advancing this program on a 24-hour-per-day, 6-days-per week basis, Golden Rim is also assessing several additional project opportunities in Fiji, where Mr Mackay met last week with Fiji's Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, The Honourable Tevita Tuibau, and senior officers from the Mineral Resources Department of Fiji.

Golden Rim chairman, Rick Crabb, says the company has entered a crucial development phase.

"Craig's leadership role is critical to our company's growth and prospects in Fiji and throughout the Pacific Rim region," Rick Crabb says. "And it is a fitting supplement to our recent senior exploration appointments, at a time when the opportunities for Golden Rim are extensive.

"We are very pleased at the Fiji Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources' confirmation last week of his government's strong support for exploration and for our Sabeto program," he says.

Golden Rim's three-month drilling program at Sabeto will comprise up to 20 holes. The first of these, in the Central Ridge region which hosts the historic Kingston Mine and several other mine portals and workings, has been drilled to a depth of 211 metres.

Three further holes will be drilled at Central Ridge, before the drill rig is moved to Tuvatu North, where Golden Rim is targeting direct strike extensions to the mineralisation hosting Emperor Mines' 450,000 ounce Tuvatu gold project.

In December 2006, Golden Rim heralded substantial expansions of its exploration programs at both Sabeto, Fiji in Vanuatu, with the appointment of Peter Olubas to the newly created position of exploration manager. Last month senior geologist Ashok Kumar joined the company's technical team.

Golden Rim is earning a 75% interest in the Sabeto Project from Mincor Resources NL.