The Fiji Agri-Innovative Competition is playing a pivotal role in enhancing entrepreneurship and improving market access for farmers and small businesses, in line with the government’s MSME Strategic Plan 2025–2030. Launched in December 2025, this strategic plan marks the first comprehensive initiative aimed at cultivating a robust, intelligent, and interconnected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem in Fiji.
Anticipated outcomes by 2030 include MSMEs contributing around 40 percent to Fiji’s GDP, along with improved access to financing and a coordinated support system that encompasses regulatory frameworks, entrepreneurship development, market accessibility, and skills training initiatives.
Sachinda Nand, Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development, remarked that the competition is essential in actualizing this vision by linking finalists with buyers and investors, providing mentorship, and improving their access to technology and essential knowledge. He emphasized the importance of this initiative by stating, “Your partnership is helping us build an ecosystem where innovation can thrive, where farmers are better linked to the market, and where our entrepreneurs are supported to turn ideas into viable, scalable businesses.”
The competition spans two weeks, featuring a virtual boot camp, an in-country showcase, and culminates in a pitching competition followed by an award ceremony, all reflecting the collaborative strength behind agribusiness and MSME development as a national priority. Nand further illustrated that the competition raises the bar in showcasing some of the country’s most promising agri-innovators.
Despite challenges in the agricultural sector—such as climate change, increasing input costs, and consumer demands—Nand views these hurdles as opportunities for innovation, diversification, and value-added technology adoption. He noted the importance of adapting global investments in technologies such as precision agriculture and sustainable food systems to match Fiji’s unique local conditions, including climate vulnerabilities, geographic challenges, land tenure issues, and community-driven business practices.
With the MSME Strategic Plan, the government remains steadfast in expanding the entrepreneurship ecosystem, bolstering cooperatives, enhancing access to finance and skills, and streamlining processes to empower MSMEs to grow, formalize, and significantly contribute to employment and income generation in the country. The competition has concluded at the Suva Civic Centre, marking a significant step forward in the advancement of Fiji’s agribusiness and MSME landscape.
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