PRIVATE SECTOR
involvement crucial now more than ever: A-G
Applications for the COVID-19 Concessional Finance Support Packages to aid Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Fiji will be available from Monday, June 8.
These packages are tailor-made to support existing, majority Fijian-owned MSMEs severely impacted by the global COVID-19 economic fallout. The programme was announced two weeks ago.
Application forms will be available from selected offices.
It will close on June 30.
More details about the Package Page 7.
Leading the charge on this initiative and officiating at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the private sectoris was the Attorney- General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum,. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum thanked the Fiji Institute of Accountants, Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Women in Business and Fiji Chamber of Commerce for their timely support.
These esteemed institutions formed an ad hoc organisation called Business Assistance Fiji, that will be responsible for assessing applications from this initiative. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “I’d like to thank them for participating it indeed shows their willingness to assist the Government in a very collaborative approach that has never taken place before.
“So the way the scheme works, we’ve now got a redefinition of what is a small enterprise, what is a micro enterprise and indeed what is a medium enterprise.” What the private sector say:
FRCS Board chairperson Fay Yee stated that FRCS was happy to be part of this initiative and to be the facilitating agency. Ms Yee added that she looked forward to working with the other institutions. Women In Business executive member Alison Southey said they are very excited, and privileged to be part of this initiative.
“We look forward to receiving applications assessing them and you know passing them on in a timely manner.”
FCEF president Sandeep Chauhan said: “FCEF is proud to be a part of this Government initiative of Business Assistance Fiji. A productive approach by the Government to roll out assistance for all citizens who may have contemplated starting their own business, but never got around to it.
“This now gives them an opportunity to do so.
“The initiative is also for MSMEs, which may need assistance during this difficult time brought about by COVID-19 as the A-G has just mentioned.
“I would just urge businesses, and the citizens to take advantage of this opportunity and grow and invest in their businesses, now is the right time for them to do so.” FIA president Nitesh Lal said: “I’m very happy to say that Fiji Institute of Accountants is part of this great initiative that Government has come up with.
“We are going to fully support this scheme. In fact, this is the first time that we have partnered with Government, and other stakeholders to collectively work together and support government initiative.
“We, as an accounting body, can add a lot of value for such projects in these challenging and uncertain times.
“It is through such collaboration that we can play our part, and take this nation forward.
“On behalf of our members, our partners present here, we look forward to work together to make this project successful.
Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Nur Bano Ali said they are proud to be associated with such an initiative. “We’ve always been supporting SMEs, and what time now to take that to another level, and we are really thankful to Government for extending that hand to us.
“We were really happy that this is going to reach out to the people who really needed a lot during COVID-19, especially in terms of assistance and we know it’s there’s gonna be a huge uptake on that.
She said what this has also done was bring the different organisations together to work on a collaborative approach that would be a role model to others.