Traditional salt and pottery makers receive timely support to boost production and income

Traditional salt and pottery makers operating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises have benefitted from a grant that will ensure the continuation of their businesses during this COVID-19 pandemic period.

They have received this support through grant funding to the Fiji Arts Council under the Phase 2 of the Organisation of African Caribbean Pacific - European Union (OACPS-EU) Development Minerals Programme in Fiji, being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.

The recipients are the salt makers of the village of Lomawai in Nadroga, and traditional clay potters of the villages of Nakabuta, Lawai, Nayawa in Nadroga, and Nasilai Village in Rewa.

The support will allow these entrepreneurs to fund proper infrastructure, human resources, transportation of raw materials, boiling equipment, quality packaging, labelling and marketing.

In acknowledging the partnership with the Fiji Arts Council, the Resident Representative of the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Levan Bouadze, said the support is part of UNDP’s broader efforts to address the business continuity and health and safety needs of entrepreneurs in the development minerals sector following the economically destructive impact of COVID-19 on small and medium enterprises in Fiji.