Fiji THRIVE Celebrates Shared Vision of Prosperity with Local Entrepreneurs.
The Fiji THRIVE Program—delivered by Bank South Pacific (BSP) in partnership with Australian Business Volunteers— achieved a milestone, with its newest group of passionate local entrepreneurs completing the first phase of their six-month journey of coaching and mentoring.
The event, held in the presence of key stakeholders including Investment Fiji and Business Assistance Fiji (BAF), celebrated a shared vision of prosperity with these entrepreneurs: creating pathways for people, businesses and communities to also thrive.
BSP Senior Relationship Manager, Rajeev Kumar addressed the graduates: “Through our partnership with ABV, we’re proud to deliver more than banking to the MSME sector. We’re equipping local businesses with the tools and skills they need to grow—because when local businesses thrive, so do families, communities, and the nation at large”.x
ABV Chief Executive Officer, Liz Mackinlay said, “We are proud to be partnering with BSP to deliver practical support to small businesses across Fiji. Fiji THRIVE is more than training, it’s a pathway to greater resilience, sustainability and growth. We are delighted to walk alongside these impressive business owners to help them achieve their goals for their businesses, families and communities.”
Launched in Fiji two years ago, Fiji THRIVE - Together, Helping to build a Resilient, Inclusive and Vibrant Economy has now engaged close to 100 MSMEs across the central, west and northern divisions of which 66% were women-led participants. The program originated in Papua New Guinea as the the BSP-ABV YES ('Your Enterprise Scheme') GROW and has evolved to meet the specific needs of local small and medium enterprises.
Investment Fiji’s Head of Regional & Trade Development, Mr. Lisala Dyer, encouraged participants to "Think big, think globally”. He added, “Investment Fiji wants to be part of your journey—supporting growth, building networks and unlocking opportunities that support our nations growth. Commodities such as Coffee, Cocoa and Noni provide a great avenue for our participants to diversify and run sustainable models of operation reducing external impacts that could hinder their business”.
The event also featured an address from BAF Acting General Manager, Nitika Singh, who highlighted the importance of tailored support for MSMEs: “At BAF, we are ready to also support you with advisory services, business grants and capacity-building to help your business thrive”.
Participants of this program now transition into a crucial coaching and mentoring phase, which will help them refine their business models, strengthen their resilience, and build lasting connections with key enablers such as the Ministry of Trade, Business Assistance Fiji, and Investment Fiji.
With a renewed brand identity and a strengthened commitment to the Pacific, BSP continues to support financial inclusion and economic prosperity across its extensive network—including 17 branches, 37 postal agents, 120+ ATMs and nearly 3,000 EFTPoS terminals nationwide.