The 2025 Women Invigorating the Nation Convention (WIN 2025) is set to commence tomorrow in Suva, attracting an estimated 200 participants. This year, the convention promises an empowering lineup of women speakers who will share their inspiring stories to uplift and motivate their peers.
This annual event occurs alongside two years of focused advocacy by the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC), the organization responsible for WIN. As the seventh council under the umbrella of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), WEBC is dedicated to gender empowerment, aiming to advance the interests of women in business throughout Fiji.
“WEBC comprises roughly 100 financial and non-financial members. Our primary goal is to support and champion women entrepreneurs,” stated WEBC Chair and Value City founder, Vera Chute, in a recent interview. The council has expanded its reach, welcoming female representatives from the corporate and public sectors into its fold.
Through advocacy efforts, WEBC conducts training sessions, workshops, and networking events aimed at improving the business landscape for women entrepreneurs. “We extend our outreach to the remotest communities,” noted Sharyne Fong, chair of the WIN organizing committee.
This outreach has included visits to various rural areas where women grow crops like cassava and kava. Through partnerships with market buyers in Sigatoka, WEBC has enabled these women to access markets successfully. A recent effort saw women from Udu Point bring their products to market in Suva and return sold out, a significant accomplishment for the program. Moreover, support from the UN has helped these entrepreneurs acquire a solar-powered fridge to store products, enhancing their business capabilities.
The WEBC has also created an academy for women entrepreneurs that has yielded successful outcomes, allowing many women to transition from informal to formal market participation. “We are witnessing many success stories, with women now securing spots in prominent markets,” Fong said.
International collaborations have further empowered Fijian women, with opportunities to attend workshops globally, enhancing their export readiness. In a recent highlight, WEBC chair Sharyne Fong presented at an international conference in Sydney, showcasing the council’s initiatives in Fiji.
As the delegates gather for WIN 2025 at the Grand Pacific Hotel, they step into a culmination of insightful training, networking, and community-driven activities by WEBC. The event symbolizes a shared commitment to fostering women’s economic empowerment and signals hope for a future of increased opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Fiji.
Events like WIN not only celebrate women’s achievements but also carry the potential to influence policy positively, paving the way for a more inclusive business environment in the years to come.
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