Women have been urged to support young individuals who aspire to start their own businesses.
Losana Marama, a representative from West Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, spoke at a women’s conference held at Gurukul Primary School in Saweni, Lautoka, highlighting the importance of the Young Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) program.
Ms. Marama explained that the scheme is designed to offer assistance through grants to young and aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative and viable ideas. The Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport provides financial support of up to $30,000 for successful entrepreneurs aged 18 to 40 years to help them develop or expand their creative business concepts.
“If your child has innovative and creative ideas, they can access this funding,” Ms. Marama emphasized. She noted that some young people may come across business ideas on TikTok that are popular abroad but have not yet been implemented in Fiji. She encouraged parents to reach out for assistance in securing this funding.
“It’s a grant, not a loan, which means it is fully funded up to a limit of $30,000. If you recognize a skill in your child, it’s important to motivate and empower them,” she stated.
Ms. Marama acknowledged the vital role that young entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth and stressed that parents and guardians should encourage their children to become “job creators” rather than “job seekers.”
The West Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) office can be found at Rogorogoivuda House in Lautoka.