SMEs contribute around 19% of the GDP - Chand

Small and medium enterprises play a critical role in Fiji's economy by contributing around 19 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and almost 60 percent of the employment is created through SMEs.

This was highlighted by the General Manager of Business Assistance Fiji, Ramesh Chand.

Business Assistance Fiji conducted a three-day Women in Business Training in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) as there is an increase of women entrepreneurs.

Chand says the training will allow women to develop their businesses in three major areas including digital financial literacy, e-commerce and business planning and debt management.

He says providing training will make it easy for them to understand and be aware of the business environment in Fiji.

Chand says Business Assistance Fiji is a Fiji Government supported program and includes members that are the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Women in Business, and Fiji Charted of Accountants.

The General Manager also says through this training they are encouraging women to grow their business and informal businesses to register so that they are able to explore opportunities to grow their business.

He says many micro-businesses are informal businesses as they are not registered.