8 named top SMEs by development bank

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President Naiqama Lalabalavu [seated], FDB chairman Damend Gounder (standing, fifth from left) with the winners of the 2024 FDB NSME awards. Picture: FIJI GOVERNMENT
President Naiqama Lalabalavu [seated], FDB chairman Damend Gounder (standing, fifth from left) with the winners of the 2024 FDB NSME awards. Picture: FIJI GOVERNMENT

EIGHT businesses were recognised as Fiji Development Bank’s (FDB) 2024 National Small Medium Enterprise Awards (NSMEA) winners at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Thursday night.

The NSMEA is an annual event organised by FDB designed to recognise, celebrate and empower outstanding SMEs across multiple sectors in the country.

According to FDB, this year’s awards received more than a hundred applications and nominations vying for a spot in nine categories.

The winners were named after extreme evaluations by the award judges.

Categories and winners were:

  • Overall, Winner and Women Entrepreneur of the year: Mesovu Fiji Pte Ltd – Beatrice Nast.
  • Agri-Business SME of the year: Pacific Produce Pte Ltd – Peter Kaer and Lilian Ekbom.
  • Youth Entrepreneur of the year: Futuristic Farms – Balbir Singh.
  • Best Maritimes SME of the year: Saunitoga Enterprise Pte Ltd – Sowane Saunitoga.
  • Sustainable SME of the year: Nabogiono Forest Park – Naresh Kumar.
  • Best Businessperson of the year: Mahmood Malawiya Farm Fresh Pure Honey – Mahmood Malawiya.
  • Emerging Entrepreneur of the year: Ground Gold Investment – Avikash Shahil Singh.
  • Cooperative SME of the year: Ratu Naevo Farm Cooperative Ltd- Adi Varanisese Neinoka Derenalagi.

Officiating at the event, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu said SMEs are significant because they foster entrepreneurship by empowering individuals especially women, youths and the vulnerable groups to start their own business.

“SMEs in Fiji are well-known for their agility and ability to quickly adapt to changing market trends.

“The sector also serves as incubators for new ideas, thus driving innovation and competition in the market,” Ratu Lalabalavu said.

He said Government prioritised measures to increase the SME sectors contribution to Fiji’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through the National Development Plan launched last year.

“The Plan promotes initiatives to improve access to finance, capacity building and the transition of more SME businesses to the formal economy,” he said.

“The FDB and financial sector are at the forefront of this effort.”

FDB chairman Damend Gounder congratulated the awardees for their success, describing SMEs as the heartbeat of Fiji.

“From agri-businesses that drive food security to climate smart and maritime benches, from youth led startups to women led enterprise, you are leading the change in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable economy.

“You’re job creators, innovators and nation builders, you respond faster than anything, you see marketplace before they are measured. You understand community needs, because you lead them.

Mr Gounder further reaffirmed FDB’s commitment in growing and progressing SMEs in the country.

Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated July 26, 2025