Business Assistance Fiji has launched its inaugural Pacific Agri-Innovative Workshop and Pitching event in Suva. This initiative, funded by the European Union, seeks to transform the agri-food system by fostering innovation and enhancing domestic agricultural production. Over the course of two days, 11 local agricultural entrepreneurs will showcase their businesses and products, highlighting their unique skills.
Mosheen Khan, the National Project Coordinator for UNFAO, emphasized the goal of supporting local agricultural businesses in the Pacific. “This new initiative, backed by the European Union, focuses on enhancing domestic agricultural production and consumption through a resilient and sustainable agri-food system transformation,” he stated.
Among the participants is Beatrice Nast, the owner of Mesovu or Goat Milk Soap Pte Limited, who expressed excitement in presenting her innovative product, which she claims is the first of its kind in the agriculture sector. “My product is very innovative because it didn’t exist before, and the vision for this business is to create an entirely new sector within the agriculture industry,” she explained.
Avishay Singh, the 27-year-old Director of Shahil’s Party Ice and Frozen Supplies and a winner of the NSME Award in 2022, encouraged fellow youths in Fiji to leverage the land resources available to them. “My message to all the young people in Fiji is if you have the potential to do something, use it, because we have a lot of land that can be utilized wisely,” he remarked.
The workshop includes pitching sessions where participants will compete for a spot in an Agri-Business incubator set to take place in Nadi on November 6th. The event is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.