In a bid to empower and boost MSMEs in the country, Business Link Pacific has launched a new $500,000 Co-Investment Fund, supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
BLP says this support will mobilise funding for MSME projects focused on improving business performance, creating jobs, and fostering social and economic sustainability.
They says this Co-Investment Fund is targeted at businesses with up to 50 employees, and they are encouraging applications from women, youth, and other under-served groups.
BLP states that funding will range from $20,000 to $40,000, matching the contributions of successful business applicants —eligible businesses must be registered and operating in Fiji for at least three years, they must provide matching funds, hold a valid business registration, and comply with tax and regulatory requirements in Fiji, and they must also have a business bank account and provide financial records, including audited statements for the past three years.
This launch marks the beginning of the countdown to the MSME Conference on the 26th and 27th of June at Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Nadi, which will bring together key stakeholders, government officials, development partners, and organisations working to support MSMEs in the country.
New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji, Alex Shahryar-Davies, says MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, creating value and jobs, and playing a pivotal role in Fiji's economic development.
He notes that last year, the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Fiji jointly committed to a target of NZD $2 billion in two-way trade flows between the two countries by 2030.
He says both governments are working to ensure this funding assistance reaches several sectors, with the MSME sector being an integral part of that focus.
While acknowledging the support of the New Zealand Government, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, and MSMEs Shaheen Ali says the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Fiji's MSMEs through bold initiatives such as this.
He says the success of last year’s MSME Conference enabled the Ministry to gather information on reforms, reframe its approach, and reinforce the value of partnership across sectors, whether governmental, non-governmental, or private.
Ali says the conference made a genuine effort to ensure all MSMEs were present and represented, allowing them to share their lived realities and the challenges they face in practical terms.
He says the MSME sector continues to face a range of challenges, including limited access to finance, regulatory hurdles, fragmented support, and evolving market demands.
He is urging banks, development partners, and mentors to stand with MSMEs, support their ambitions, invest in their growth, and help shape a future that builds resilience and sustained progress in the sector.
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