FDB Market Day provides platform for women vendors to grow their businesses

The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) selected 30 women vendors to participate in its Market Day, providing a platform for small businesses, particularly women entrepreneurs, to showcase their products and expand their opportunities.

Speaking at the event, FDB Chief Executive Officer Filimone Waqabaca says the initiative is more than just a marketplace.

He describes it as a space that promotes opportunity, empowerment and economic inclusion, especially as the country celebrates International Women's Day.

The event, organised in partnership with the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC), brought together women-led micro and small businesses whose products reflected stories of resilience, innovation and determination.

Waqabaca says supporting women entrepreneurs remains a priority for the bank, noting that more than 90 percent of FDB’s portfolio accounts are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while 29.77 percent of customers are women.

He highlights that FDB is also promoting gender equality within the institution, with women making up 50 percent of its workforce, half of the Executive Committee, and 43 percent of the Board of Directors.

According to Waqabaca, empowering women entrepreneurs has a ripple effect on communities and the wider economy.

He says that when a woman grows her business, families gain stability, children gain opportunity, communities gain strength and the economy gains momentum.

To further support women in business, the bank has also introduced a Loan for Women Entrepreneurs, designed to reduce financial barriers by offering flexible requirements, no equity or security, and parametric insurance coverage.

In addition, vendors at the launch of the market day were informed that pre-approved unsecured Women Entrepreneur Loans are available, allowing them to access financing through FDB’s AI-based digital application system for faster approval and disbursement.

Waqabaca says events such as the Market Day play a crucial role in providing exposure, networking opportunities and customer connections for emerging entrepreneurs.

He also announced that FDB plans to host more Market Days throughout the year, creating ongoing platforms for small businesses to grow and reach new markets.

The initiative reinforces the bank’s commitment to building a more inclusive economy where women entrepreneurs play a central role in national development.