Small business owner Inise Cakau has proven that hard work does pay off as long as there are consistency and a heart of service for the people.
Ms Cakau runs Faith Restaurant in Korovou, Tailevu.
She attributes the achievements so far to her determination, community support and partnerships with her customers, community members and her supporters.
Ms Cakau began her entrepreneurial journey in 2023.
She would prepare fish parcels from fish supplied by her husband.
She also received financial support from her two daughters who live and work in Australia.
Hearing and being inspired by conversations with a group of friends, she pursued her vision to open a restaurant after securing a venue in Korovou town.
“I was sitting with my close friends over a grog session one evening and I mentioned to them that I wanted to open a restaurant. Then my friends told me about the South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) which gives loan to people who want to start their business,” Ms Cakau said in an interview.
“After that, we met and had some discussion with the landlord and then we secured the venue just in the town.”
Ms Cakau said she later obtained a $1500 loan from the SPBD, which allowed her to establish the business with basic cooking equipment, including a kerosene stove and a single-burner gas stove. She said her business then received a major boost of $32,000 grant through the Ministry for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s Self-Help Programme, which enabled her to remodel and upgrade the restaurant.
She said her restaurant was officially opened earlier this year and now employs four staff.
Ms Cakau acknowledged the support of local farmers and fishers, saying their produce was essential in delivering the authentic flavours of Fiji’s traditional cuisine.
Faith Restaurant specialises in authentic and organic traditional iTaukei dishes, and offers a menu that reflects the seasonal harvest, featuring dishes such as ika vaka miti, kai vali and duruka vakalolo with fish, alongside a selection of organically grown root crops.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Mosese Bulitavu (Middle) with the restaurant staff and other members after the opening of the restaurant. Picture: FIJI GOVERNMENT
