WE Finance Code promises improved access to financing opportunities for women entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs can hope for improved access to financing opportunities as the Women Entrepreneur Finance Code has been launched to address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing financial resources and support their economic empowerment.

While launching the Code at the GPH, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, Eseta Nadakuitavuki, by providing women with the necessary resources and support, they can unlock their potential to drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to sustainable development while ensuring their business ventures are also sustainable and successful.

She says the launch of the Code represents a significant step towards addressing the barriers that women entrepreneurs face in accessing finance.

Nadakuitavuki stressed the importance of fostering an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to Fiji's economic growth.

She also highlighted government's commitment to supporting women-owned businesses and creating opportunities for their advancement through the formulation of the Women Economic Empowerment National Action Plan.

The WE-Fi initiative, a partnership with the Asian Development Bank aimed at unlocking financing for women-led/owned businesses in developing countries, has selected Fiji as one of three countries in the Asia Pacific region to pilot the WE-Fi Code.

The key stakeholders for the WE Finance Code in Fiji are the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Fiji Development Bank, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection.