Savusavu business entrepreneur Rabino Taratai has been crowned the 16th South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Businesswoman of the Year, delivering a powerful message of resilience to grassroots women across Fiji.
The Nuku Centre member from Savusavu clinched the prestigious corporate award following a rigorous judging process that evaluated the growth, financial discipline, and community impact of small business operators across the country.
Accepting the award, she attributed her entrepreneurial milestone to the structural support of the SPBD microfinance network and the collective determination of rural businesswomen.
“I stand here today with a full heart, thanking SPBD and our beautiful judges for choosing me as their businesswoman of the year,” Ms Taratai said.
She acknowledged SPBD for believing in their businesses, and giving them the opportunity to grow their businesses, support their families, and to build a better future.
Reflecting on the practical hurdles of building a sustainable enterprise from the ground up, Ms Taratai said business success required massive personal sacrifice and unwavering family support.
“To my beloved husband, who is also here today, I would also like to thank you for standing beside me, supporting me, and believing in me. Our journey has not always been easy, but through hard work and sacrifice, we have continued to move forward. This achievement does not only belong to me, but to both of us.”
Ms Taratai also made a strong call to fellow micro-entrepreneurs and women driving the informal commercial sector, advising them to reject the stigma associated with low-capital startups.
“Never be ashamed of starting small. Do not give up when challenges come your way. Every successful business begins somewhere, and success takes time, patience, and hard work.” She urged them not to compare their individual journey with others.
“Instead, let us support one another, learn from one another, and celebrate each other’s success.
“Remember, we are not only building businesses. We are building a better future for our children and our families. Our beginnings do not determine our future.”
The SPBD microfinance framework continues to provide training, financial literacy, and essential credit facilities to empower women entrepreneurs across Fiji’s rural and maritime zones to build commercially sound assets. SPBD awards chief judge Lorraine Seeto said the event celebrated more than business successes, but a celebration of women’s power in changing their own lives and the lives of those around them.
