Page 18 - SPBD Dec 2021

SPBD Fiji 2020 SPBD Fiji 2020

SPBD IN THE NEWS

South Pacific Business Development General Manager Elrico Munoz and Director Lorraine Seeto. Picture: FILE
The South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Microfinance Network has surpassed $US200 million
($F419m) in micro loans which have been disbursed to tens of thousands of women entrepreneurs since its
inception in 2000.
According to a statement from the organisation, the SPBD had disbursed 264,000 small loans to low-income
entrepreneurs in the South Pacific, 99 per cent of whom were women.
From left: Vinod Patel Pte Limited director Pravin Patel, Vinod Patel Pte Limited chief operating officer Neelesh Pal
SPBD Fiji director and general manager Rico Munoz said he was very excited with their success to advance Singh, South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) director Lorraine Seeto, South Pacific Business Development
financial inclusion through microfinance to improve the lives of people. (SPBD) general manager Elrico Munoz and Vinod Patel Pte Limited chief executive officer Rahul Amin on November
16, 2021. Photo: Shahani Mala.
SPBD assists over 10,000 women

The South Pacific Business Development has assisted more than 10,000 Fijian women in the past 10 years.
General Manager, Enrico Munoz says the assistance is worth more than $60million.
Munoz highlighted this as SPBD marked its 10th anniversary
Ten women micro-entrepreneurs were honoured and recognised today for their exemplary achievements during the
10th Anniversary of the South Pacific Business Development Businesswoman Awards held at the Grand Pacific Hotel. He adds setting up in Fiji has been one of the biggest successes, as many women are now successful entrepreneurs.
Repeka Tatila won the Individual Saver Award, Nuku Centre won the Centre Saver Award, Elina Sigadrodro won the
Centre Secretary Award and the COVID-19 Business Resilience Award, Roseline Nisha won the Centre Chief Award,
Laisa Vakaloloma won the Financial Education Facilitator Award, Uluibau Centre won the New Centre Award, Valelevu
Sisters in Action won the Centre of the Year Award, Vasemaca Aditukana won the SME Businesswoman Award and “I would say that the success rate is around 70 percent of our women have really succeeded in the entrepreneur
Josephine McComber won the Businesswoman of the Year. enterprises.”
SPBD Fiji General Manager and Board Director Erico Munoz say 2020 and 2021 were challenging years for Fiji because
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says a lot of their members had difficulties in surviving through the pandemic but through their resilience, they
found other ways in ensuring their business stays afloat.
Munoz says some of their members lost their lives during the pandemic yet their memories will serve as an inspiration
to overcome this great trial of our time.

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