THERE is a new generation of Fijians – villagers, the mums and dads and grandparents – who are beginning to understand the importance of financial security and are now saving and investing for themselves, their children and grandchildren.
Unit Trust of Fiji (UTOF) board chairwoman Lavinia Kaumaitotoya dispelled the negativity that surrounded the perception that Fijians could not save, saying Fijians today are saving.
During the 2025 financial year, UTOF registered 4000 new account holders, of which 3200-3600 (80-90 per cent) were mums and dads investors.
UTOF general manager Strategic Development Sakiusa Bolaira said they had seen a trend of more mums and dads creating their children’s accounts. He said there were a lot of emphasis for parents who had become more responsible and wanted the best for their children, “so they see investment as a way to bring prosperity”.
Ms Kaumaitotoya said from financial literacy sessions they had conducted, “I can confidently say that our people are getting educated financially”. She said there was also a new intergenerational trend.
“There’s also the tuas (granddads) and naus (grandmas) who are also investing in their grandchildren as well,” Ms Kaumaitotoya said in response to a question from this newspaper.
She commended the foundational work of UTOF, citing the Noqu Vanua investment scheme – specifically designed to help empower ordinary Fijians in village settings to save and invest, and generate tax-free returns.
“The work here in Unit Trust is very foundational because it sets the platform for the future of our Fijians, and I’m so proud of the work that not only us but other financial institutions are doing.
“People in our villages, regular moms and dads, they are saving.
“Civil servants, people who are working, they’re using our EIS (Employee Investment Scheme) to save. Even if it’s $10 a fortnight, it’s working.
“Just going out and talking, the talanoa to our people is making an impact and that’s all we can ask for because once it makes that impact, the ‘norm’ that Fijians don’t save, that’s changing. It’s changing today.
“And with the right climate that we are having now, people are investing. It’s a new generation of Fijians, and I’m so proud of it. From me, sitting inside here and looking at the numbers, it’s exciting. So for us here in UTOF, we have to make sure we have the strategies in place to capture that.
“And for our Fijians that are out there, that (investment) mindset that they have dispels the norm that we are non-savers. As Fijians, we are beginning to invest and save and that’s very exciting,” Ms Kaumaitotoya said.
