Fijian musician and small business owner Akanisi Vakaloloma has expressed her enthusiasm for the recent launch of Fiji’s first-ever MSME Strategic Plan and MSME Database. She believes that this initiative plays a crucial role in providing targeted support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the nation.
Vakaloloma, who has successfully built her entertainment business from the ground up, highlights the transformation that access to tailored assistance can bring to entrepreneurs in the creative arts sector. She cites one of her significant challenges as the lack of access to quality equipment, which has hindered her ability to deliver professional sound, expand her services, and compete for larger events. “For many years, my biggest challenge was access to quality equipment. Without proper musical tools, it was difficult to deliver professional sound,” she noted, emphasizing that despite her skills and experience, inadequate equipment often limited her business’s growth potential.
The MSME Strategic Plan for 2025–2030 acknowledges that MSMEs are not uniform and recognizes the distinct challenges faced by businesses in various sectors. Vakaloloma echoed the sentiments of the Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel, who pointed out that Fiji’s MSMEs have long operated with insufficient support, fragmented services, and a lack of the necessary data for their full potential to be realized.
“Visibility is essential for MSMEs like mine. A robust and accurate database ensures that businesses are recognized and taken into account during national planning and policy formulation, which means small enterprises are counted and connected to opportunities,” Vakaloloma stated.
She also expressed optimism that these initiatives provide hope for women and young entrepreneurs, demonstrating that with the appropriate systems in place, Fijian MSMEs can compete on local, regional, and global stages. This new strategic plan represents a significant step towards building a more supportive environment for small businesses in Fiji, fostering growth and innovation in the sector.