$19M Used For 19,500 Applications
Atotal of 19,548 businesses have been assisted through the micro and small business grant as of yesterday with an investment of more than $19 million since 2015.
Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources Faiyaz Koya, while distributing the grant to 600 people at Koroivolu Park in Nadi, said the programme impacted the lives of more than 100,000 Fijians.
“I wish to applaud the resilience of the people from the Western Division for not letting any natural disaster bring you down, you are all examples of how positive attitude and endurance can overcome any hurdle.” Mr Koya said the recipients demonstrated that they were ready to continue with their lives, either by starting a new business or grow their existing business. He said the programme intended to improve the lives of the grassroots communities.
“The Government is laying the platform whereby opportunities for forward linkages for our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will be available through the completion of Government’s manufacturing and services zone here in the Western Division,” he said.
“These opportunities will present themselves in the form of catering, transportation, logistics and other service providers for international companies that will establish their operations in this manufacturing and services zone.”
Through this partnership with the Fiji Development Bank, he said, the ministry was confident that a number of recipients would expand their current businesses with further financial assistance from the bank.