Fiji’s government is expanding support for young and small businesses, delivering a broader set of grants and higher caps to help entrepreneurs scale and diversify. Acting Prime Minister and Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica announced that the Young Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) now offers grants up to 50,000, up from a previous cap of 30,000. Overall funding for micro, small, and medium enterprises has risen to 4.2 million, a 36 percent increase from the last budget.
Under the refreshed plan, 60 percent of YES funding will go toward unique and innovative business ideas, while 40 percent will assist existing ventures that show solid sustainability plans and clear pathways toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions. For the National Export Strategy Programme, grants are increasing from 100,000 to 150,000 to help Fiji’s businesses expand into export markets.
In addition, grants under the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme will remain at up to 150,000, but the reach will expand to urban businesses as well starting September 1, 2025. The allocation will be split with 35 percent directed to urban and 65 percent to rural and very rural businesses to broaden inclusivity and reach across communities. The Trade Enhancement Programme has also seen a boost, with the grant ceiling rising from 1,000 to 5,000 per business to help cover rising costs. The Northern Development Programme remains in place to support growth in Fiji’s northern regions. Expressions of Interest for these expanded schemes will open on September 1, 2025.
This intensification of support forms part of a broader government push to strengthen the MSME sector. The coalition government has highlighted an overall MSME program budget around 80 million and ongoing initiatives that include the Graduate Business Start-Up Grant Scheme, launched as part of the 2024–2025 National Budget. That scheme, which awards 5,000 grants to recent graduates, has already seen 21 recipients, with a strong female representation and a broader aim to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship across Fiji.
Context from related programs shows the scale and ambition of this drive: MSMEs contribute about 18 percent of GDP and provide roughly 60 percent of national employment. The latest initiatives are designed to sustain and accelerate that impact by supporting new business ideas, helping graduates transition into enterprise, and expanding the geographic and sectoral reach of key schemes.
What this means for applicants
– More ambitious grant caps mean greater ability to cover startup costs, equipment, and early operating expenses for new ventures.
– The mix of funding priorities—innovation, sustainability, export readiness, and urban-rural inclusivity—offers multiple pathways for different kinds of businesses.
– With Expressions of Interest opening on September 1, 2025, entrepreneurs should prepare clear proposals, including growth plans, sustainability angles, and, where relevant, export strategies.
– Urban-focused expansion of the IHRDP opens opportunities for city-based ventures that can scale quickly, while continuing to support rural and very rural enterprises.
Overall, the expanded schemes reflect a positive, forward-looking strategy to empower Fiji’s entrepreneurs, boost job creation, and strengthen the MSME backbone of the economy. The phased rollout and focus on sustainability and export readiness provide a hopeful framework for durable growth across communities. If successfully leveraged, these measures could widen access to capital, spur innovation, and help more Fiji-based small businesses reach national and international markets.
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