A call for unity has been made by the chairman of the Fiji Indigenous Business Council (FIBC) Ulai Taoi, who urged FIBC members to “take our destiny into our own hands”.
In his opening address at yesterday’s FIBC workshop at the RB Patel Harbour Point Conference Centre in Lami, Mr Taoi stressed the importance of unity and strengthening network in order “to grasp and fully experience the opportunities available to us”.
“While some of our members are at some stage ready to expand their operation either through joint ventures, establishing new office branches, acquiring more staff or establishing new markets, most members who are medium to small businesses continue to be burdened by lack of available seed capital and an inhibiting business environment.
“The members that are still here today acquired the habits of being prudent with money, frugality and economic self-reliance.
“However, we believe that we will need to continue to re-examine and position ourselves to stay abreast of competition.”
While the call has been made to Government to be more supportive of indigenous businesses, the Government also issued guidance on how the two parties can work together to help advance iTaukei entrepreneurship.
“I strongly urge organizations such as this, to keep updated with Government policy developments and assistance and identify areas where indigenous businesses can directly engage in, especially now that the Coalition Government’s is transparent in policy development,” Minister of Finance Biman Prasad said during his speech at the event.
“It is also through your organisation, that we humbly request that policy development updates be shared down to indigenous grassroot level, so that they are well informed and have the opportunity to participate as well.
“I encourage your active communication and collaboration between Fiji Business Indigenous Council and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, as that is the Government arm that is spearheading the iTaukei institutions reforms, with the main objective of promoting indigenous participation in development,” Mr Prasad said.
Mr Taoi said an FIBC secretariat will be establish to provide support services for members, given the many challenges that lay ahead.
The workshop was supported by iTaukei investment conglomerate Fijian Holdings Ltd.
