Business Assistance Fiji has launched its inaugural Pacific Agri-Innovative Workshop and Pitching event in Suva. Supported by the European Union, this initiative is designed to transform the agri-food system by enhancing domestic agricultural production. Over two days, 11 local agricultural business owners will present their businesses and highlight their unique products.
Mosheen Khan, the National Project Coordinator for UNFAO, emphasized the initiative’s goal to foster local agricultural businesses across the Pacific. “This is a new initiative funded by the European Union aimed at improving domestic agricultural production consumption through a resilient and sustainable agri-food system transformation,” he stated.
One of the participants, Beatrice Nast, the owner of Mesovu or Goat Milk Soap Pte Limited, expressed her excitement about introducing an innovative product to the agriculture sector, noting that it is the first of its kind. “I think my product is very innovative because it didn’t exist before and basically the vision for this business is to create a whole new sector in the agriculture industry,” she remarked.
Avishay Singh, a 27-year-old director of Shahil’s Party Ice and Frozen Supplies, encouraged fellow Fijian youths to make use of the land available to them, which he believes was crucial to his success. Singh was honored with the NSME Award in 2022. “My message to all the young people in Fiji is if you have the potential to do something, use it because for us in Fiji we have a lot of land that can be used wisely,” he advised.
Participants will pitch their products and business concepts at the event, competing for a chance to become an Agri-Business incubator in Nadi on November 6th. The workshop will conclude tomorrow.