Fiji’s MSME sector must harness digital tools, innovative thinking, and artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate growth, improve efficiency, and unlock new markets.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce and Business Development Manoa Kamikamica made the remarks in his address at the 2026 MSME Conference at the GPH in Suva yesterday. He said the digital tide was already here, and the question was not whether it would be embraced, but how confidently and securely small businesses would use it to grow.
“MSMEs can now use digital platforms to manage accounts, accept payments, market products, engage customers, access free training, and explore export opportunities,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“Artificial intelligence can support better decision-making, customer service, product development and business planning.” Speaking on the event’s theme ‘Digital tide: Navigating MSME growth through digitalisation, innovation and AI’, Mr Kamikamica warned that digital acceleration demanded strict attention to emerging online vulnerabilities. Referencing the newly established National Cybersecurity and Resilience Strategy 2026–2031, he reminded delegates that digital growth must be matched by robust digital protection.
“Cybersecurity is not only a matter for Government or large corporations. A single cyber incident can affect an MSME’s finances, customer information, reputation and ability to operate.
“A digitally confident MSME must also be a digitally secure MSME.”
He urged every local business to immediately adopt foundational cyber-safe practices, including multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, regular data backups, and continuous staff awareness. The DPM reiterated that small businesses remained the heartbeat of Fiji’s economy. He stressed that the Government’s ongoing interventions aimed to deliver tangible outcomes, bringing the nation closer to an MSME sector that was “better financed, digitally connected, cyber-resilient, and able to compete confidently in the markets”.
