THE Trade Ministry’s programs for micro, small and medium enterprises is not a form of charity, says Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica.
Opening the Western Division mini agriculture trade show in Nadi on Thursday, Mr Kamikamica said these were investments that would benefit Fijians committed to driving economic development.
“In the 2025 – 2026 National Budget, my ministry has been allocated $5.5 million,” he said.
“This is a 36 per cent increase from the previous year to fund programs such as the Cooperative Development Fund, the National Export Strategy, and the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme.
“This is not charity.
“These are smart investments in people who are ready to hustle and grow.”
He said while efforts were being made to invest in local businesses, there were still a few challenges that need to be addressed.
“Let’s not sugarcoat it, challenges remain.
“We are still seeing fragmented coordination, gaps in certification and unpredictable supply.
“This weakens trust and limits opportunity.
“To fix this, we are actively strengthening partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, MPI NZ, Pacific Trade Invest, and PHAMA Plus.
“Together, we are streamlining logistics, investing in certifications and linking producers to structured markets.”
The mini trade show ended yesterday.
