A growing number of Fijians are now engaged in Micro Business enterprises as a form of employment and source of revenue.
The Microfinance Unit of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) recorded Five Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty Five (5,455) microenterprises established since 2008 to date.
The FCOSS Microfinance Unit manager Ms Lavenia Rabo said that a total of more than $3 m ($3,752,132.00) was lent during this period to clients.
Ms Baro said they started giving microfinance assistance to clients in the Central Division a few years back but expanded to the Eastern Division and Western Division from 2008 to 2012.
She said they have opened offices in Sigatoka to service the province of Nadroga and Navosa and also expanded their services to clients in Koro, Ovalau and Moturiki in the Lomaiviti province.
“In November 2012 we opened our service for the district of Nalawa in the province of Ra and we have our Point of Service based at Burenitu village,” Ms Baro said.
She said that due to this, they are now looking at the possibility of expanding services to the district of Tavua.
“We are currently working with our District Council of Social services in Tavua to establish an office in Tavua which will service the Tavua and Ba district, this should be up and running by October of this year,” Ms Baro said.
Ms Baro said their microenterprises clients have also been a source of employment to fellow unemployed Fijians.
“Usually the majority of these microenterprise owners employ between 2 to 8 people in their various micro enterprises,” Ms Baro said.
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