Entrepreneurship development is a powerful and sustainable tool for women empowerment - Vuniwaqa

Entrepreneurship development is a powerful and sustainable tool for women empowerment.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa while officiating at the South Pacific Business Development Business Women of the year Award last night at Churchill Park last night.

Vuniwaqa adds that through entrepreneurship, women discover their self‑worth, strengthen their self‑confidence and motivate themselves to develop their skills in harnessing available resources to improve their lives.

She also highlighted that the South Pacific Business Development  objective of empowering women through entrepreneurship development, financial education and access, and community organizing runs parallel to the priority programs of the Ministry and the government at large.

In Fiji, South Pacific Business Development has provided more than 34,250 loans to women in rural communities worth US $16.5m since 2010.

Vuniwaqa says that this partnership has enabled the recognition of women’s contribution towards their families and the nation.

The 2018 Businesswoman of the Year Award was won by Shalini Devi of Korovesi Village in Savusavu who has a successful Yaqona Business.