Page 32 - Islands Business January 2021

SPBD SPBD

FIJI BLOOM

NURTURING BUSINESSES FROM THE GROUND UP
Fiji’s first business accelerator program for micro-entrepre- to help them prepare strategies for their growth.
neurs successfully graduated nine businesswomen in a simple • Business Acceleration Program – aimed at guiding the
ceremony last November. entrepreneurs to successfully face the challenges of
An intensive six-month program, which combines formal their growing businesses.
training sessions with onsite business coaching, South Pacific Hours before their graduation, participants had to pres-
Business Development’s (SPBD) Fiji Bloom Program has three ent and defend their growth strategies to a Panel of Judges
main components: headed by Lorraine Seeto and assisted by Api Korosiga (Lapita
• Business Formalisation – this is intended to assist the Investments) and Semi Bilitaki (USP Career Centre and Ser-
informal business sector to become part of the formal vices). Mereamo Lalakobatiki (Dreu na Leba Investments) of
economy by registering their businesses with the Regis- Ucunivanua Village, who operates a canteen, catering, fish
ter of Companies and Fiji Revenue & Customs Service, trading and taxi business, was awarded the top prize.
and by obtaining the necessary business licenses. The other graduates are Vani Vakacegu, Merewalesi Mua-
• Business Development Services – the micro-entrepre- niwaqa, Ulamila Bera, Milika Rokomada, Susana Rolewatu,
neurs are linked to existing reputable business develop- Vasemaca Aditukana, Viniana Loloyavura and Mareta Koro.
ment services providers and SME Preparation Workshops

“My name is Merewalesi Muaniwaqa. I’m from a village
MEET THE MEMBER: called Sote in Tailevu. I live in Caubati Stage 2. I cook for
MEREWALESI MUANIWAQA the students of Gospel Primary School; I cook their meals,
their lunch, snacks during recess time. That’s the business
I’m doing.
The business was doing well before COVID-19. But when
COVID-19 came, business was falling as the school closed
so there was not really much to do. [So] I stayed home and
made lovo and posted it on Facebook then the orders came;
from customers, from offices in Suva and from other resi-
dents where I live. I also deliver fried fish with tavioka.
The third one is ibe (mats), the i vivivi. I take a picture of
it and post it on Facebook and I earn money. That is also a
business I was able to do.
After accomplishing that, I took a loan from SPBD and
bought a car. This same car is used to deliver the food that
is ordered.
Fiji Bloom [SPBD’s business accelerator program] is an eye
opener, for me to see, to see long term other opportunities
to keep the business going.
Nowadays, I always watch shows on tv about businesses.
I saw something [recently] about flowers, pot plants. I’ve
learnt and know a bit about flower arrangements and I’m
thinking of that, to expand my business. These are some of
the things I’m doing that keeps me motivated and going.
When school resumed, sales dropped and I had to find
other means to keep my business afloat. Before, the kids
used to come and buy things from me directly. But now, the
teachers come. They take the orders from the kids and then
come to me; I give them the orders.
I don’t quit easily; I look for other things to keep me go-
ing. That’s just some of the small business I’m doing.”

32 Islands Business, January 2021