The inaugural ‘2024 Pacific Agri-Innovate Business Plan Competition’ was launched in Suva, aiming to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector, particularly in agriculture. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs, and Communications Manoa Kamikamica described the competition as a significant step for Fiji to enhance innovation, resilience, and support for MSMEs in agriculture, ultimately aiming to boost economic growth.
At the launch, Mr. Kamikamica stated, “Through this competition, we aim to empower you with the resources, mentorship, and exposure necessary to transform your innovative ideas into viable, sustainable agricultural practices.” He emphasized that the competition would provide MSME participants with the chance to establish the country’s first agri-business incubation center to nurture and accelerate agricultural startups and innovations.
Joann Young, Assistant Representative to Fiji from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, remarked that the launch demonstrated the collective commitment between the FAO, the Trade Ministry, and the Ministry of Agriculture to support agribusiness in Fiji. She highlighted the importance of providing essential resources, infrastructure, and expertise to create a vibrant ecosystem for agricultural innovation that benefits all stakeholders in the sector.
The Pacific Agri-Innovate competition is part of the Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems in Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands (STODAS) project, which aims to promote rural agribusiness development via business incubation and technology commercialization. Ramesh Chand, general manager of Business Assistance Fiji, noted that the initiative seeks to identify, nurture, and showcase innovative agribusinesses with high growth potential in the Pacific.
The competition, which was simultaneously launched in Samoa and the Solomon Islands, will focus on various aspects including post-harvest and food technology, value chain development, farm retail, sustainable agriculture, farm mechanization, and supply chain management. The winner of the competition will receive $1,000 (approximately $F2,216) and will gain access to mentorship and advanced incubation support. Additionally, a competition website has also been launched.