Page 10 - SPBD24

SPBD

SPBD FIJI COMMITS TO SUPPORTING SME GROWTH
SPBD Fiji aims to disburse more than 100 Small and Medium
Enterprise (SME) loans this year.
Kunal Chand, who heads SPBD Fiji’s SME program, says
training has now been conducted around the country to help
qualifying members understand the conditions of these loans,
and how they can apply for, and most benefit from them.

Training was conducted in Lautoka, Sigatoka, Nausori,
Nabouwalu, Savusavu and Suva.
“We discuss with them the difference between micro and
small businesses, and how to grow businesses to the small
level,” Chand says.
Nabouwalu SME training.
“We try to develop a clear growth strategy and actionable
planning. We ask, what are the things they can do to grow
their business? We share marketing strategies like using
social media and all those platforms. We discuss how they can
grow their customer base,” he adds.

To qualify for the SME loans, members must have a registered
business. For those having difficulty with that process,
Chand says: “We will help them. They can get their business
registration within two weeks.”
SME orientation Lautoka.
Many SPBD Fiji members are running multiple businesses
and are able to diversify from one income stream to another.
But Chand says there are other opportunities for them to
scale up, such as the partnership with Cyber Food Fiji.
Last October, SPBD Fiji and Cyber Food Fiji signed an
agreement which enables interested members to list on the
platform.
SPBD Fiji Director and General Manager, Elrico Munoz said
the collaboration amplified the work of SPBD by providing SME Savusavu Training participants with Mr. Udit Sharma and Mrs. Aruna Sharma of
RYNA Business Services as resource persons.
the organisation members with a secure platform to sell their
products online. vehicles and integrate them into their businesses.
“Women who may have previously had their goods seen SPBD Fiji hopes to disperse 11 SME loans in Lautoka, 1
by a few dozen people in a local market will now have their in Rakiraki, 10 in Sigatoka, about 20 in Nausori, a few in
products available to thousands online. Nabouwalu, 10 each in Labasa, Savusavu and Taveuni and
“Partnering with Cyber Food, a company with a proven about 85 in the Suva area.
secure platform, adds an extra layer of safety for our women To qualify, members must undergo training. SPBD Fiji also
entrepreneurs,” he said. looks at the centre criteria and whether they meet the
Chand says the platform is benefiting women in the Suva- requirements for loans, operational businesses and savings.
Nausori corridor, who have transitioned from selling “When a member applies for a SME loan they share that
individual food packs to establishing catering businesses. information with the whole centre, basically, how does it work.
“When they go into catering, they are now doing it for big And that can also inspire other members to take up loans.
companies. Likewise for those doing bakery businesses, they “We share case studies and explain some of the benefits they
are expanding further. will be getting, and anticipate some of the challenges they
“Selling fish is another good example of how businesses can might face. They share with us too, what might affect their
move from the micro to the small and medium level. Where businesses, but they are eager to take the challenges up.”
they used to buy and sell fish, now they can get their own Chand says the loans are seen as a good investment in both
boat, and increase their profits.” businesses and members’ savings. The interest paid on SME

Other members have used their SME loans to buy their own loans is 5% less than the usual rate.
10 10