The Women’s Finance Exchange (WFE) launched its ‘Access to Finance Program’ yesterday, designed to empower local women entrepreneurs with crucial financial skills and knowledge. Hosted by Business Assistance Fiji (BAF), the event attracted around 40 women from Suva who were eager to improve their financial expertise.
Ramesh Chand, the general manager of BAF, recognized the program’s partners and emphasized the goal of promoting financial independence and business growth among women. “In our business industry program, we include climate action sensors, business continuity planning, business health checks, and various trainings that we have been facilitating in multiple areas,” Mr. Chand stated during his address to the attendees.
He also noted, “Upon receiving the request to conduct this training, we realized its significance. We have provided training on access to finance and finance management, covering topics such as budgeting and cash flow with a specific focus on women entrepreneurs.”
Additionally, Manita Ray, managing director of Capital Human, and Uzma Altaf, gender specialist at the Asian Development Bank, shared their expertise on gender equality in financial access and how the program aligns with wider development objectives.
The two-day training program will cover financial planning, management, and modeling, featuring sessions on budgeting, cash flow management, financial statement analysis, and understanding various finance options through HFC Bank.