A new digital platform aimed at lifting indigenous Fijian entrepreneurship was launched this week with government backing, officials say, promising language-specific support to help village and urban business owners assess needs, identify growth opportunities and link directly with experienced advisors. The iTaukei Business Tool is billed as a culturally relevant gateway to business development services designed specifically for iTaukei entrepreneurs who may face language and access barriers to mainstream support programs.
“It ensures every entrepreneur can access quality services in ways that are both practical and culturally appropriate,” Minister for Trade Esrom Emmanuel said, describing the tool as an important step toward economic inclusion. Emmanuel said the initiative seeks to widen participation in formal business support channels and make assistance easier to use for those who live outside major urban centres.
Programme director Steve Knapp said the platform is the culmination of nearly a decade of regional work to tailor advisory services for Pacific communities. According to Knapp, the broader programme now connects more than 200 advisors across 10 Pacific nations, providing mentorship, training and finance linkages to small enterprises. Through that network, the programme has supported more than 3,000 small and medium enterprises and helped facilitate approximately US$10 million in financing to enable expansion and strengthen operations.
The iTaukei Business Tool introduces language-specific diagnostic instruments that lead entrepreneurs through a practical assessment of their businesses and help identify priority areas for growth or capacity building. Based on the diagnostic, the platform then matches business owners with appropriate advisors from the regional network, officials said, allowing support to be delivered in ways that recognise local customs, communication preferences and business contexts.
Officials emphasised that the tool does not replace in-person advisory services but is intended to improve the efficiency and cultural suitability of referrals. By assessing needs in the entrepreneur’s preferred language and framing, the platform aims to reduce barriers that can prevent promising micro and small enterprises from accessing training, mentorship and finance. The programme’s existing advisor network has been credited with opening pathways to both technical assistance and capital across the Pacific.
Development of the iTaukei Business Tool draws on lessons from the regional rollout, where coordinators worked with community leaders and service providers to design culturally appropriate approaches. Knapp said the decade-long process focused on building trust, aligning services with local realities and strengthening the capacity of advisors to support diverse island economies.
Government and programme officials say the launch marks an initial step to broaden economic inclusion for indigenous entrepreneurs across Fiji. While specific rollout plans and uptake targets were not disclosed at the launch, the initiative leverages the established Pacific-wide advisor network and the finance channels it has already cultivated. Organisers argue that tailoring diagnostics and advisory connections to iTaukei language and culture will accelerate the pathway from small-scale enterprise activity to sustainable business growth.
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