Having access to funding is an issue for the young entrepreneurs in Fiji as they lack collateral.
This was revealed by the chairperson of the Young Entrepreneurs Council, Avinit Narayan.
“They don’t have resource in terms of funds or research, they don’t have business development tool kits training,” he said.
“So we are trying to provide this and create those linkages so you know you got the government program, with the yes scheme, you now got the RISE.
“These are the partnerships that we are trying to create through the private sector with our government, so there is a synergy and we can actually produce a conducive environment for young people to actually go into business.
“It’s a work in progress but it’s not a step going backwards its actually going forward.”
He said ease of doing business was also a challenge for the council however there were some improvements being made.
“I have to say a lot of lobbying has been done and a lot of conversations have been happening and a lot of changes are happening from the current ease of doing business registrations at town council level and at local government level,” said Mr Narayan.
“So those changes are happening, yes its getting there, it’s a bit slower but we got traction, so what it tells us it that getting together as young entrepreneurs our voices are being heard, and changes have been done according to that.”
He said the council gave the young entrepreneurs a national voice and a platform where they could actually raise their concerns whether it was the ease of doing business or managing their own portfolio or their business ideas and so forth.
“But normally traditionally as young people, for starting of a business we tend to do it in isolation and we don’t have access to information or we don’t know where to get the information from.
“So the idea of the council is to have that available not for current people who are doing business but also the next generation of inspiring entrepreneurs.
“Basically when you are looking at the appropriate changes in say policies or being included in decision making processes or budget or being part of you know discussions.
“We want to be part and parcel of it and as I mentioned last year we have constantly been part of that change.”
He said the council would provide the platform for young people to voice out their concerns and lobby it to the appropriate stakeholders through Fiji Commerce Employers Federation.
