THE Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) Fiji has marked a decade of partnership with Motibhai Group of Companies, celebrating a relationship that has helped bring community-sourced, Fijian-made products into homes across the country.
The milestone was celebrated on Wednesday at the Motibhai Building in Walu Bay, Suva, and was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica.
The partnership comes as FRIEND marks 25 years of service in Fiji, having started in the aftermath of the 2000 civil unrest to help communities build livelihoods from local skills, knowledge and resources.
FRIEND acting chief executive officer Viloki Gohil said the 10-year partnership demonstrated the impact of genuine corporate social partnerships.
“Over these 10 years, this relationship has shown what genuine corporate social partnership can achieve,” Ms Gohil said.
“Motibhai’s distribution strength has helped connect community-sourced products with wider markets, creating visibility for Fijian-made goods and opportunity for the people behind them.”
She said FRIEND’s work had evolved from helping rural communities develop products to helping them meet the demands of formal markets, including quality control, packaging and distribution.
The organisation has worked with communities to develop locally available root crops, fruits and traditional food preservation skills into flours, dried products and other value-added foods.
Ms Gohil said FRIEND was now entering a new phase focused on market expansion, scalable growth and food innovation.
“As FRIEND steps into its next 25 years, we want to expand what is possible for rural enterprise – greater visibility for local products, stronger opportunities for communities and partnerships that combine commercial capability with social purpose.
“This anniversary is not only a reflection on where we began; it is a commitment to the next chapter.”
The partnership is aimed at strengthening local value chains while creating sustainable income opportunities for rural households, women and young people.
FRIEND stated the collaboration demonstrated how private sector networks and community organisations could work together to support inclusive economic development and reduce reliance on grant funding.
FRIEND Fiji staff members at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay, Suva, on Wednesday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications Manoa Kamikamica with FRIEND Fiji acting CEO, Viloki Gohill and Motibhai Group of Companies director Jinesh Patel during the celebration of their 10 years of sustainable partnership at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay in Suva on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications Manoa Kamikamica chats with FRIEND Fiji founder and Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran, acting CEO, Viloki Gohill as Motibhai Group of Companies directors Jinesh Patel and Nilesh Patel during the celebration of their 10 years of sustainable partnership at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay in Suva on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left, Motibhai Group of Companies directors Nilesh Patel and Jinesh Patel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications Manoa Kamikamica, FRIEND Fiji founder and Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran and FRIEND Fiji acting CEO Viloki Gohil during the 10-year sustainable partnership celebration at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay, Suva on Wednesday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left: Daniel Reddy, Praneeta Devi, Viloki Gohil and Preeya Sen during the celebration.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left: Tanya Waqainabete, Litiana Tagi and Viniana Faotusia at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay, Suva.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left, Nilesh Chand, Mohit Narsey and Nitya Nand during the celebration at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay, Suva.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Lavenia Kaloubula, left, and Ashish Prasad. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left, Joanne Miller, Praneeta Devi and Payal Kritika during the celebration of their 10 years of sustainable partnership at the Motibhai Group of Companies building in Walu Bay in Suva on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
