SPBD launches award, reveals milestone
AFTER 13 years in Fiji, the South Paci c Business Development (SPBD) will soon commemorate having dispersed $100million in unsecured loans in Fiji on women microentrepreneurs.
This is according to SPBD board director Loraine Seeto while launching the 2023 Businesswoman of the Year Awards at the SPBD Suva office.
“SPBD Fiji has been in operation for 13 years, however this organisation has been in existence since 2000. SPBD has helped over 13,000 Women in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Ovalau,” Ms Seeto said.
“A $100m in unsecured loans have been dispersed in Fiji and we are currently organised in nine branches Fiji wide. Suva, Sigatoka, Lautoka Rakiraki, Levuka, Savusavu, Labasa, Taveuni and Nabouwalu.
“Over the next few months, two milestones will take place in terms of SBPD Fiji. We will have dispersed $100m in May and we will also open our 10th branch in Nausori on June 24.
She said there would be eight categories in this year’s awards. They are Businesswoman of the Year, Centre of the Year, Centre Chief Year, Centre Secretary of the Year, Financial Education Facilitator of the Year, Individual Saver, Centre Saver, and the new Centre for the Year.
“The theme is ‘Women Led Entrepreneurs Enriching Lives and Building Futures’. This theme shows the transformative power of female entrepreneurship at the grassroot level. In many communities, women face systemic barriers to economic empowerment, yet they display remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in starting and running microenterprises.
“This year’s feature is that only
A-grade centres will be eligible for nominations and there are certain criteria regarding A-grade centres. For example, you need to have a number of borrowers that are equal to, or more than 20, you loan should be more than $20,000, etc.
“The judges (will) go to the eld and see for themselves what the nalists do.”
The portal where applicants from quali ed centres can register their nomination application for the award categories have been opened and will close on June 30, 2024.
The awards ceremony will be held on October 4, at the Vodafone Arena.