Your Excellency;
Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism;
Media Personnel;
Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula vinaka, Namaste and a very good afternoon to you all.
It is a pleasure to continue this partnership with the Indian Government in the area of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
Today marks a very special occasion as His Excellency, the Indian High
Commissioner will be presenting to the Fijian Government the cheque for the balance of funds for the assistance of the Fijian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The Indian Prime Minister H.E. Narendra Modi during his state visit to Fiji in November 2014pledged to provide US$5 million for the development of MSMEs in Fiji. These funds have boosted the Fijian Government’s initiative of the Micro and Small Business Grants. A total of $8.4 million of the Indian funds has been utilised for the Micro and Small Business Grants and this $2.04 million will also be used for the MSME sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I personally would like to thank His Excellency and his team for their support towards the development of micro and small businesses, which continues to make a difference in the lives of our aspiring micro and small entrepreneurs, particularly in the grass roots communities.
Your Excellency, we hope to continue to strengthen this relationship in areas of mutual interest that has started with the MSME sector.
With those words, I once again thank the Government of India for their trust and continued support and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Thank You. Vinaka Vakalevu.