Kirwin Raises Business Recommendations for Small Communities at ACP Business Summit
Enabling an environment and immigration policies for small communities to engage in business was a key recommendation raised by Loving Islands founding director Litia Kirwin.
She raised this during the African Caribbean & Pacific Island (ACP) business summit in Nairobi, Kenya. While delivering her speech alongside heads of state and government, she further highlighted the results of fostering in country innovation and entrepreneurism. “Over 60 per cent of Fiji’s population under 40 years of age, with the large majority having never travelled overseas.
“As a result fostering in-country innovation and entrepreneurialism with the expectation of youth to effectively engage in global markets is extremely demanding and practically unrealistic with the absence of global experience
“Young diaspora communities present a unique opportunity for African Caribbean & Pacific Island (ACP) countries to engage a specialised and skilled cohort of entrepreneurs that bring with them international exposure, global networks, access to finance and patriotism, Mrs Kirwin highlighted. In her address she acknowledged the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu at the ACP business summit. “Currently Fiji’s Immigration policies are highly prohibitive for diaspora communities to return & engage in business if not registered for citizenship as a minor.
“It was very fortunate to have Fiji’s Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in attendance and to hear of his support and actions already being taken towards a more inclusive diaspora immigration policies,” she said.
About the ACP Business Summit
The 9th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government took place from December 9 - 10 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Summit, themed “A Transformed ACP: Committed to Multilateralism”, was be preceded by Ministerial Sessions from December 6 – 9, 2019.
Since the 8th Summit in Papua New Guinea, significant developments have taken place which are reshaping the engagements between ACP Member States and the wider world.
These changes imperatively call for the ACP Group to redefine its position and role with its traditional and potential development partners both internationally and regionally