Microfinance network South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji has disbursed a record $125million in loans to women-owned and managed businesses in its 14 years of operation in the country.
This comes only a year after reaching $100m in cumulative loan disbursements to more than 7000 empowered women entrepreneurs who are managing thriving businesses and transforming communities.
SPBD Fiji director and general manager Elrico Munoz said that was not just growth but a movement.
“This milestone reflects the tremendous acceleration of our microfinance operations. It shows that the women of Fiji are not just dreaming, they’re building, expanding, and leading. And SPBD Fiji is right there beside them,” Mr Munoz said at the celebration event held in Lautoka last week.
He said the institution had not only grown in impact but in outreach, noting that 451 village-based women’s groups and centres gathered weekly to learn, save and support each other.
Mr Munoz highlighted entrepreneur and vendor Asinate Varo who took her first $1000 loan in 2021 to grow her fresh produce business at the Namaka Public Market.
He said Ms Varo attended every centre meeting, diligently saved and reinvested in her business; and fast forward to this year, had the confidence and capacity to take a $20,250 SME loan with SPBD Fiji.
“That’s a 20-fold leap in just four years. Her journey is not just inspiring, it’s proof that microfinance works,” he added.
Mr Munoz said the broader SPBD network of microfinance institutions that operated across the Pacific – in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – shared one mission, to unlock the economic potential of women and eradicate poverty through entrepreneurship.
He acknowledged members as the heartbeat of SPBD, the staff for their tireless work, and to partners and supported for the belief in the mission.
“This $125m milestone is not the end, it’s a launchpad.
“We will continue to innovate, expand, and deepen our impact. Because every woman deserves that chance to rise.”
In an interview early this year, Mr Munoz told The Fiji Times that it took them more than 10 years to reach the $100m mark, and a little over two years for the additional $25m.
He had said that meant SPBD Fiji was growing faster than before, with more clients, more members and members’ loans were getting bigger that meant businesses were expanding.
Last year, SPBD Fiji had set a target of reaching $200m in loan disbursement over the next five years.
Note: This article was first published under the headline: “Milestone $125m” in Page13 of the print version of The Fiji Times dated September 1, 2025
