10 receive $280,000 in grant
Current Fiji Interest Rates Term Deposits
1 year 3 years 0.25% 0.25% 0.60% 0.60% 0.30% 0.30% 0.50% 1.00% 2.50% ‐ 1.25% 1.75% 1.00% 1.00% 1.75% 2.25%
ANZ BoB BSP Bred BSP Finance Credit Corp HFC Kontiki Finance Merchant Finance WBC
FDB
1.50% 0.25% 0.80%
Home Loans
1 year Fixed 4.15% 3.75% 4.10% 4.00% 3.99% 4.75%
Variable
6.49% 4.99% 6.45% 6.25% 6.35% 6.49%
2.25% 0.30% 1.60% 5 years 0.25% 0.60% 0.30% 1.00% ‐ 2.25% 1.00% 3.00%
3.00% 0.30% 2.25%
2 year Fixed 4.95% 3.95% 4.90% 4.95% 4.50% 5.45%
TEN local entrepreneurs received close to $280,000 in grants under the Ministry of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises’ 2023-2024 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) grant program.
Speaking during the grant hand-over ceremony at Suva’s Civic Centre yesterday, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Manoa Kamikamica said Government’s commitment to MSMEs has “resulted in a significant investment of over $100 million”.
“In this financial year, the ministry has been entrusted with $2.6m in grant funding, eliciting an overwhelming response of $4.7m from 1450 applicants. This tremendous interest underscores the resilience and ingenuity of our entrepreneurial community,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“Today, we are pleased to allocate close to $280,000 in grants to a group of entrepreneurs, amplifying the Government’s support for the transition of innovative concepts into viable businesses.”
Three of the grant recipients, Rasalato Yanuyanurua of Aswhy Enterprise, Munesh Prasad owner of Cocosip, and Vinooda Seniwrante were Young Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) program recipients.
Navendra Naidu, an aspiring egg exporter from Ba, and Asaeli Lemaki, owner of Qito Sportswear were grant recipients under the National Export Strategy program.
Other awardees, recipients of the Trade Enhancement Program (TEP) are Elizabeth Rossetta, Saurara Golesobu, Jasoda, Kalesi Baleula and Akanisi Adimaiwa.
Mr Kamikamica said the participation of women in these digital application processes showed that MSMEs were not digitally incapable.
“In fact, I’m pleased to say that these brave ladies went through the entire TEP process digitally, meaning applying and uploading their documents on the application portal.
“Since inception in 2022, the TEP portal has received 4170 applications online, out of which 71 per cent were women applicants. They continue to debunk the myth that our MSMEs are digitally left behind or digitally incapable.”