Twenty applicants have successfully secured grants under the iTaukei Trust Fund Board’s (TTFB) schemes designed for iTaukei businesses. The recipients were presented with offer letters yesterday in Suva.
The two primary initiatives are the Business Ready Support Scheme (BRSS) and the Drua Innovation Small Grants Scheme 2.0 (DISGS 2.0). Launched in 2024, these programs aim to foster innovation and entrepreneurship that benefit traditional resource owners and promote sustainable development.
During the event, Ifereimi Vasu, the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, emphasized that the grants acknowledge “extraordinary ideas and projects” that aim to enhance community sustainable development. “These initiatives highlight innovation and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, resilience, and the well-being of our people, especially traditional resource owners,” Mr. Vasu stated.
Nicola Noble, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Fiji, also attended the event, mentioning that the embassy has been focused on enhancing climate-resilient development and prioritizing Pacific needs, which is why they support this initiative.
Among the successful applicants, eight were awarded under the DISGS 2.0, a collaborative effort between the TTFB and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from various international donors such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), as well as the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Additionally, twelve iTaukei-owned businesses received funding through the BRSS, with projects spanning community tourism, youth empowerment, and commercial agriculture.