Westpac Fiji will stage its first Female Founders Market Day for 2026 on Saturday, April 11, offering a new marketplace and networking platform for women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The event will be held from 9am at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus car park in Suva and forms part of the bank’s broader Female Founders Program.
Organisers say the market is designed to give female vendors direct access to customers, raise the profile of budding entrepreneurs and provide networking opportunities that link stallholders into the program’s wider support pathway. Participating vendors will be able to showcase products and services while tapping into mentorship and exposure opportunities Westpac has packaged through the Female Founders initiative.
Westpac Fiji chief executive Shane Smith said the market underlines the bank’s commitment to helping women succeed both academically and commercially. “At Westpac, we know too well the crucial economic role women play in our communities,” Smith said. “Creating spaces such as this market allows women to showcase their talents and flair and potentially grow their business and customer base too.” He described the market as a practical step toward strengthening the visibility and commercial prospects of women entrepreneurs across Fiji.
The event also signals Westpac’s alignment with national and international efforts to expand support for women business owners. The bank is a signatory to the 2024 We-Fi Code, an agreement aimed at increasing access to funding and business support for women-led MSMEs in Fiji, and organisers say the market will help translate that commitment into tangible opportunities for vendors.
Keni Baro, Westpac Fiji manager Community & Engagement, urged the public to attend and back local female artisans. “The Women’s Market Day is another great way that we can extend our support for women-led enterprises so, we encourage the general public to come out and truly appreciate these artisan’s craft and help to positively contribute to their growth and success,” Baro said.
Visitors can expect a diverse range of stalls, including handcrafted ornaments, pandanus-woven mats, homemade foods and clothing, with on-site entertainment planned to complement the marketplace atmosphere. Westpac has positioned the event not only as a retail opportunity but also as a networking hub where entrepreneurs can meet peers, potential customers and programme representatives who can guide them toward further resources.
By creating a visible, community-centred marketplace, Westpac expects the Female Founders Market Day to boost market exposure for women-run MSMEs and to provide practical connections to the bank’s Female Founders support pathway — a timely development as stakeholders work to expand financial inclusion and business support for women across Fiji.
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