MICRO, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) must lead the way to Fiji’s transition to a circular economy, said Permanent Secretary for Trade Shaheen Ali as the BAF MSME Conference 2025 underway in Nadi makes a thematic call for a shift to the circular economy.
Speaking to The Fiji Times after a panel discussion on Fiji’s path to a circular economy, Mr Ali said Fiji already has a National Circular Economy Framework and Roadmap under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, which mapped out the nation’s transition from a linear to the more sustainable circular economy, a transition that is likely to be led by MSMEs.
“Under that (framework), it takes a whole of Government approach towards moving our economy towards a circular economy.
“By doing that we are targeting the SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) as well as long term benefits in terms of maximisation of our resources, preservation of our environment, preservation of our culture as well as biodiversity and also long term, the fight we all are doing against climate change,” Mr Ali said.
“And studies show that MSMEs are the leading proponents as well as the leading innovators on circular economy.
“So it is very timely and very appropriate for this conference to have that theme on circular economy.”
The theme of the BAF MSME Conference 2025 is: “Sustainable Tides: Connecting MSMEs for a Circular Economy”, a call for MSMEs to come on board and help change Fiji’s economic landscape.
“MSMEs now need to start mainstreaming some of the circular economy ideas, mainstreaming in terms of business practices, ensuring that they market their products to consumers that are conscious of the environment, it may cost a little bit more, but when you’re consuming a product that you know that has zero carbon footprint, is environmentally friendly, it protects the economy and can be recycled, you feel better for it and you may not mind spending a little bit extra,” Mr Ali said.
“So that’s how you can get an environmentally-conscious and resource-conscious economy going.”
Echoing the call and reflecting on the conference theme, Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) president Vinay Narsey said there was a “dynamic and necessary shift towards a more sustainable and regenerative way of doing business”.
“The vision of BAF in hosting this conference is to provide a national platform where MSMEs can connect, collaborate and gain practical knowledge from both local and international experts,” Mr Narsey said while welcoming chief guest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica.
FCEF was one of the four founding institutions of BAF.
“By creating opportunities for learning, networking and dialogue, we aim to strengthen the MSME sector and promote an inclusive and sustainable growth for Fiji,” Mr Narsey said.
The two-day conference ends today.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 27, 2025
