Fiji’s push to grow its digital economy is gaining momentum, with nine startups receiving business development support through the Fiji Innovation Hub, an initiative that costs several million dollars annually to operate.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce and Business Development Manoa Kamikamica told Parliament that the hub was established in July 2025 to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve productivity and help local innovators develop commercially viable solutions.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Reserve Bank of Fiji in partnership with the ministry, with financial and technical support from development partners, including the United Nations, European Union, Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Kamikamica said the hub was part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector and diversify the economy through digital innovation.
Nine startups were selected for a 12-week activator program in April 2026, receiving mentorship, technical assistance and business development support.
Their projects include digital bookkeeping tools for market vendors, financial technology platforms, open banking applications, digital payment solutions for children and a proposed peer-to-peer lending platform.
Mr Kamikamica said the digital bookkeeping initiative could help market vendors formalise their businesses by maintaining proper financial records, potentially improving their access to institutional financing and opportunities for expansion.
The children’s financial literacy platform is also aimed at introducing saving, budgeting and investment concepts through digital tools.
The hub’s activities include a February 2026 hackathon involving 13 teams and Fiji’s inaugural Startup World Cup competition in May, where eight local startups competed for international exposure.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji’s regulatory sandbox is also supporting the development of new financial products, allowing innovators to test solutions before progressing towards licensing.
Mr Kamikamica told Parliament that 12 innovative solutions were now in the sandbox pipeline, compared with just four between 2019 and 2025. Nine of the current solutions originated from the Innovation Hub.
Responding to questions on operating costs, he said the hub was funded through contributions from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, development partners and the ministry, with annual costs running into several million dollars.
He said the long-term objective was to make the initiative financially sustainable, with successful digital ventures potentially generating returns that could be reinvested into the hub.
The Government sees the initiative as a pathway to building local technology businesses, creating employment and positioning Fijian startups for opportunities in international markets.
