SIXTEEN potential business and business owners completed their three days ‘Start Improve Your Own Business’ (SIYB) training and have received their recognition from the Civic Towers in Suva, yesterday.
The course is offered and facilitated by the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications (MTCMSMEC), MSME Fiji Unit.
Addressing the graduates of the training program, MTCMSMEC director economics Ateca Rounds guaranteed the trainees that the knowledge acquired from the SIYB training program will be instrumental in their business journey.
“One of the things that the Ministry does is give out grants and for us, from the Ministry, for us to give our grants we need to see that your business has a vision and you’re working towards that business.
“I know most businesses face a lot of hurdles whether it be access to information, finance or access to trainings and I know this is only one part of the journey, getting the training.
“But then another part is implementing these trainings, those concepts that you’ve learnt in the last three days into your businesses,” Ms Rounds said.
She explained that the Ministry works on finding new markets and developing new industries for potential businesses.
“We are currently working with a number of investors, to try and find new markets not only for MSMEs but also for a number of products here in Fiji.
“We are always here to help you, we’re always here to provide you guidance, we’re always here to provide you with feedback on a number of things that each individual markets wants from you to elevate your business.
“We don’t want you to stay at only micro level, the idea here is to elevate you to ensure that you grow into a large business, and we can only do that if we all work together,” she said
One of the Participants, Edward Snow expressed his gratitude in being part of the program.
“For me this three day’s workshop, I learnt so many things including basic things to consider in running a business.
“It not only motivated me to build my business, but study and share that knowledge with my colleagues on how to formulate our business better,” Mr Snow said.
MSME Ministry confirmed the program have graduated four groups amounting to 74 potential businesses for the month of march itself, with the new lot now awaiting their grants as the first to graduate for April 2025.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 28, 2025
