Minister for Education, Heritage, & Arts, and Local Government, Premila Kumar, broke ground for the New Savusavu Market project earlier today (27/10/22).
The Market Project comes with a modern concept, which is suitable to the needs of vendors and customers alike.
“The proposed Market will be a two-storey building. The ground level will house the market vendors, coffee shops, an information booth, a handicraft centre, and kiosks. Level 1 will have SME vendors, kiosks, and a conference room," said the Minister Kumar.
"Consideration has also been given to having appropriate space to cater to more vendors and kiosk owners in the future. The Market will also have a user-friendly elevator for physically challenged vendors and users of the premises."
“This is a testament to the fact that the Fijian Government will not leave any Fijian behind, no matter what."
The new Market will also have a proper public convenience for the market vendors as well as the public. In addition, the existing Council office will be renovated to have a sophisticated look.
“The market will be a business hub for the small-medium operators that will maximise economic activity within the market. The market vendors will have an opportunity to provide quality fruits and vegetables at a competitive price."
“Competitive prices and quality vegetables would mean that more customers will buy from these vendors,” mentioned the Minister for Local Government.
The Fijian Government is supporting the Savusavu Market project and a sum of $169,003 was allocated in the 2021-2022 budget, for the design and documentation works of the market. Again, for this financial year, the Council has been allocated $1m for the commencement of the construction works of the Municipal Market.
Savusavu is known as “Bluetown”, as aligned with the Bluetown Concept. The Bluetown model is a critical component of economic recovery and resiliency. Fiji will advance the Savusavu Blue Town initiative as a powerful replicable model to ensure local communities not only survive but thrive.
“The new Market will give an opportunity to 184 vegetable vendors to sell their produce from a modern facility, with capacity and space for new vendors. I am advised that the market will provide services to the entire people of Cakaudrove, approx. 60,000 people, yachts, tourists, and hoteliers,” stated Minister Kumar.
The Minister acknowledged the support of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Through the Markets for Change (M4C) Programme, they have contributed towards market infrastructure and human development by providing capacity-building training for the market vendors. For the construction of Savusavu Market, UN Women has contributed a sum of FJD$700,000.
A number of market projects have been completed by the Municipal Councils across Fiji. Approximately 12 Municipal and Mini Markets have been funded by the Fijian Government with an investment of $23.6 million.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fijian Government has provided financial relief to the market vendors through market stall fee waiver and will continue to do so in this Financial Year. For the 2022-2023 Financial Year, a sum of $5,243,236 million has been allocated to support 12,880 vendors (permanent and casual) in the 13 Municipalities.
Through this initiative, the Fijian Government is supporting the market vendors to ensure they are able to bounce back considering the losses incurred by them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.