Courts (Fiji) Limited director marketing, Anil Senewiratne (left), Courts (Fiji) Limited chief operating officer, Hamendra Prasad (second left), South Pacific Business Development general manager, Elrico Munoz (right) with recipients of entrepreneur purchasing vouchers. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
By FARISHA AHMED
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Courts (Fiji) Limited and South Pacific Business Development have come together to promote women entrepreneurs in Fiji.
The team yesterday handed over three purchasing voucher to three women entrepreneurs from Suva and Nausori under the South Pacific Business Development (SPBS) loan scheme.
This is after the three companies signed a memorandum of understanding last week Friday.
The memorandum of understanding was signed with the underlying objective to open up new economic projects and business opportunities for women.
Courts director marketing, Anil Seniwaratne, said the company is very honoured to be part of the ministry’s initiative to assist women to develop their business.
“We thank the ministry for giving us the opportunity to support women who are less fortunate, to start up their business,” Mr Senewiratne said.
Courts Vouchers
Mr Seniwaratne said women will have to register with South Pacific Business Development first.
“They will identify the needs of the women, will then give them a voucher to go and get the items from Courts,” he said.
“The agreement will enable the women to buy products from Courts on discounted prices.”
The items include brush cutters, sewing machines, microwave, deep freezers, cooking stoves along with farming tools.
South Pacific Business Development director,Elrico Munoz, said these vouchers will assist women to purchase the relevant items they need for their business.
“SPBD provides loans for women to start up small businesses and with that they usually have quotations of the items they will need,” Mr Munoz said.
“We will liaise with Courts when our clients will need the item and hence, customers will be able to produce these vouchers and collect the items at a discounted rate.”
Recipients speak of plans
One of the recipients of the voucher was Susana Vulariko from Verata, Nausori.
MrsVulariko will be starting another business after the success of her two businesses.
“I have a canteen and a cake stall in Nausori and I wish to start a lawn mowing business through the help of SPBD’s loan,” MrsVulariko said.
“This is a great offer for us women to start the business and with courts voucher we will be able to purchase items at reasonable price.”
Women empowerment
The Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni said the agreement has broadened the horizon for women to take advantage of this new package venture into viable economic projects.
“The new partnership will create economic opportunities for women to venture into new business opportunities,” Dr Luveni said.
“We are thankful to Courts Fiji and South Pacific Business Development for this partnership that promotes the economic empowerment of women in Fiji.”