WOMEN attempting to enter the business world are still finding difficulties in accessing finance and continue to face challenges in obtaining business licences.
Eseta Nadakuitavuki, Westpac’s manager Women’s Markets and Women Entrepreneurs Business Council chairperson, said the two issues were highlighted from three surveys conducted over the past three years.
“I’ve been pleading to stakeholders and the Government if they can look at the processes and see where and how they can streamline it for women,” she said.
“One of our core objectives is to be the voice for women in the informal sector and to assist them in migrating from the informal to formal sector because by doing that we will provide an enabling environment to them to contribute to the economy.
“If they remain in the informal sector then they are under the radar and we won’t be able to identify how many women are involved in business activities and how best we can assist them develop their businesses even further.”
Ms Nadakuitavuki, who is also a member of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation board, said more than 60 per cent of women involved in business activity remained in the informal sector because of finance and business registration challenges.
