The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has expanded its financial inclusion ecosystem, welcoming three new signatories to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code).
Good Return, Women’s Fund Fiji, and the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation’s Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) have formally signed the global commitment, bringing Fiji’s total coalition to 14 signatories.
The addition of these three organisations broadens the national partnership beyond Government ministries, regulators, and financial service providers to include critical development and business support groups.
Serving as the national coordinator in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the RBF works alongside the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, which acts as the national champion.
Data from the Fiji Financial Services Demand Side Survey 2025 underscored reaffirmed the need for continued action to support women entrepreneurs in the country.
According to the RBF, the survey revealed that women accounted for 55 per cent of household MSME owners nationwide, driving local livelihoods and economic participation.
However, it also highlighted persistent challenges, noting that women-led MSMEs generally operated at a smaller scale and faced greater barriers when trying to access finance.
Ministry of Women acting permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca said welcoming the new signatories strengthened a collective movement to break down barriers, noting that when women succeeded, families prospered and the economy became more inclusive.
RBF governor Ariff Ali said while barriers women faced would not be overcome overnight, added every stakeholder had a role to play in addressing those.
“Through the WE finance Code, we are bringing together institutions with different strengths and perspectives, united by a common goal of creating a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs,” Mr Ali said in a statement.
“It is this collective effort that will drive meaningful and sustainable progress.”
Moving forward, he said the expanding network aimed to leverage sex-disaggregated data and targeted financing actions to build a more resilient and inclusive economy.
The WE Finance Code is a global commitment that brings together regulators, financial service providers, development partners and other stakeholders to improve access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
