Twenty successful applicants for the iTaukei Trust Fund Board’s (TTFB) grant programs aimed at iTaukei businesses received their offer letters in Suva yesterday. The two initiatives, the Business Ready Support Scheme (BRSS) and the Drua Innovation Small Grants Scheme 2.0 (DISGS 2.0), are flagship projects introduced by the TTFB in 2024 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship that will benefit traditional resource owners and support sustainable development.
During the presentation of the offer letters, Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu emphasized that the grant schemes were designed to acknowledge “the extraordinary ideas and projects that will contribute to the sustainable development of our communities.” He remarked that these projects not only demonstrate innovation but also emphasize a commitment to inclusivity, resilience, and the well-being of the people, particularly the traditional resource owners.
Deputy British High Commissioner to Fiji, Nicola Noble, also attended the event, highlighting the embassy’s efforts in promoting climate-resilient development and placing Pacific priorities at the forefront of its programs, thus supporting the TTFB initiative.
Eight of the applicants were awarded grants from the DISGS 2.0, a collaborative project between the TTFB and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), backed by donors such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Korea International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Twelve iTaukei-owned businesses received grants through the BRSS, covering diverse areas including community tourism, youth empowerment, and commercial agriculture.