The Fiji Agri-Innovative Competition is making significant progress in promoting entrepreneurship and improving market access for farmers and small enterprises as part of the government’s MSME Strategic Plan 2025–2030. Launched in December 2025, this initiative aligns with Fiji’s first MSME Strategic Plan, which also introduced the National MSME Database. The overarching goal is to cultivate a robust and interconnected MSME ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth.
By 2030, the plan aims for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to contribute nearly 40 percent of the nation’s GDP. It also focuses on simplifying access to finance and ensuring these enterprises function within a more enhanced framework regarding regulation, market access, and skills training.
Sachinda Nand, the Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development, highlighted the competition’s pivotal role in realizing this vision. He expressed that it not only connects finalists with potential buyers and investors but also offers mentorship and improved access to technology and innovative practices. Nand remarked, “Your partnership is helping us build an ecosystem where innovation can thrive,” illustrating how the initiative fosters valuable connections between farmers and the market, aiding entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into scalable businesses.
This competition has set a high standard by bringing together some of Fiji’s most promising agri-innovators, showcasing their capabilities during a time when the agricultural sector faces various challenges, including climate change, escalating input costs, and evolving consumer demands. Despite these hurdles, Nand sees them as opportunities for innovation, diversification, value addition, and new business models that can help mitigate risks and improve profitability.
Moreover, as global investments increasingly target innovations such as precision agriculture and sustainable food systems, Nand emphasized the necessity of adapting these techniques to fit Fiji’s unique environmental and socioeconomic landscape, which involves climate vulnerabilities, geography, land tenure systems, and community-driven business practices.
Through the initiatives encapsulated in the MSME Strategic Plan, the Fijian government remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing a diverse entrepreneurship ecosystem. This includes strengthening cooperatives, improving financial access, enhancing skills development, and streamlining processes to support the growth and formalization of MSMEs. The competition not only reflects the government’s dedication to agribusiness and MSME development but also embodies a promising future for entrepreneurs nationwide. The event concluded today at the Suva Civic Centre, marking a key milestone in advancing Fiji’s agricultural innovation landscape.