SUVA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The first-ever Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Information Hub has opened in Suva, the capital of Fiji, to support small businesses.
This initiative aims to support and elevate the businesses of MSMEs to reach their commercial growth potential and provide seamless service delivery, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Monday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs, and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, said access to information remains one of the top three challenges for MSMEs.
The information hub will create the opportunity for businesses to easily access information on a variety of services and will also grant them assistance programs, Kamikamica said.
He added that the ministry has partnered with Business Assistance Fiji and the Fiji Development Bank to offer MSMEs a holistic approach to business development, encompassing financial advice, business planning, and access to funding opportunities.
MSMEs form the backbone of the Fijian economy. Pre-Covid statistics indicate that MSMEs contributed over 18 percent of the GDP and provided employment for approximately 60 percent of the labor force in Fiji. ■
