Fourteen local entrepreneurs are now equipped with the financial knowledge and business skills to grow their businesses following their graduation from the 2022 Fiji Enterprise Engine (FEE) program, held at the Civic Center on Wednesday.
The accelerator’s third cohort of MSME entrepreneurs comprised of Wati Talavutu of Creations 23, Bruce Southwick of ZoomFiji, Christopher Vanualailai of Envirotech Solutions Pacific, Veronika Naiwaqa of Upskill Yourself Pte Ltd, Mue Mausio of Crazy Bites, Israel Cakaunivere of Hybrid Audio, Taraivina Nailisa of Navunisereki Enterprise, Laisenia and Salome Seru of Wasa Ni Tadra, Eleazar O’Connor and Ronetava Ronaivakulua of Naisevu Organic Farm, Ana Malumuvatu of Kavalicious Taveuni, Fred Fatiaki of Uplifting Wellness, Lui Veitata and Ratu Solomone Tokovou of The Merch, Sele Tagivuni of Vatunigauna Holdings and the members of the Bia I Cake Women’s Cooperative.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for External Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs and Communication Manoa Kamikamica congratulated the graduates and said, “As ambassadors of this program, I encourage you to nurture and use your innovative minds as your guiding compass to become job creators and successful business owners.
“The Fiji Government also counts on you, as your valuable knowledge and skill will contribute and assist in our strategic policies and plans and issues that directly impact al lives and build a better future for Fiji,” Mr Kamikamica added.
Fiji Commerce and Employer’s Federation (FCEF) chief executive officer Kameli Batiweti said, “The FEE program has pioneered the development of flexible business training curriculum, including business mentoring. coaching. counselling and networking, contextualized specifically for local MSMEs.
“We look forward to our continuing these strategic partnerships and making this program available for more MSMEs in Fiji.”
The six-month program is facilitated by FCEF with support from the Australian Government’s Market Development Facility, Fiji’s Ministry of External Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communication, and the iTaukei Trust Fund Board. The 2023 FEE intake will begin in May.
