The Fiji Times

10 receive $280,000 in grant

- By MERI RADINIBARA­VI

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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.”

 ?? Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU ?? Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperativ­es, SMEs, and Communicat­ions, Manoa Kamikamica, back, fourth from left, permanent secretary Shaheen Ali and MSME Fiji Grant Agreement recipients, and guests at the MSME Fiji Grant handover at the Civic Centre in Suva.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperativ­es, SMEs, and Communicat­ions, Manoa Kamikamica, back, fourth from left, permanent secretary Shaheen Ali and MSME Fiji Grant Agreement recipients, and guests at the MSME Fiji Grant handover at the Civic Centre in Suva.
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