5 Fijian green enterprises win USD5000 each in GGGI Incubator Business Plan Competition

PGEN Incubator Graduates, Stakeholders & Guests at 2022 Graduation Event. Photo: GGGI Suva

Suva, Fiji, 17th February 2023 - Thirteen Fijian green enterprises graduated from the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program, implemented by Global Green Growth Institute.

The Graduation Ceremony showcased and celebrated the achievements and growth of the Fijian Incubator program participants, coaches, mentors and other parties involved in the program. The ceremony took place as a blended event, with Suva-based guests and participants attending in person at Holiday Inn, Suva and international attendees joining virtually.

The Incubator program is part of the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN), a 3-year regional program funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and implemented by GGGI and local partners. The 2022 Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program ran from September 2022 to December 2022, with twenty early-stage green enterprises from Fiji participating in local workshops, regional training, mentoring, coaching, and networking.

Speakers at the event included Mr Daniel Smith – Country Representative Fiji, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Mr Fahad Al-Dehaimi – Project Manager, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Mr Kameli Bateweti – Chief Executive Officer, Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) and Matelita Katamotu – Founder, Domoika Hike & Rock Climbing Adventures.

Mr Daniel Smith Congratulated and thank the PGEN Incubator Participants for the hard work they put into the program saying “We recognise the need for the new generation of entrepreneurs in the Pacific that initiate and develop new green businesses that grow our economy now and our future economy.”

Mr Fahad expressed his happiness on being able to personally be in Fiji to see all the great work the successful graduates have achieved. He also spoke on the effectiveness of the PGEN Program saying “Programs like this form the foundation of great partnerships and we hope this program here will be the first of many to cement the  relationship between the people of Qatar and the people of Fiji.”

Mr Kameli Batiweti showed his support and gratitude to the 2022 graduates saying “I am very delighted to address a group of intentional entrepreneurs who have decided to start a business that contributes to Fiji’s sustainable development goals.”

He also spoke of the resilient nature of small enterprises of Fiji such as the ones graduating today saying “We are resilient people. Our middle names are ‘resilience’ and we tend to bounce back a lot faster than a lot of other nations who have faced climate change impacts recently.”

Matelita spoke on behalf of the graduates thanking GGGI, QFFD and the PGEN team for the support, training and platform they have created to enable SMEs to grow.

All the graduating enterprises represent a variety of sectors including Agriculture, Consulting Services,  Eco-Tourism, Handicraft & Creative Art, Manufacturing & Textiles and Transport; namely Domoika Hike & Rock Climbing Adventures, Eden Eco Farm, Farms & Kitchen, Green Horizons, Leduas Art Collection, Natures Wonder Products, Pocket Nanny Placement Agency, Project Green Fiji, Qaqi Mai: Bike Share Fiji, Remnant Visions, Vanaya Design Studio, Veikau-Loa Estate and Vigour Glamour.

The Incubator program culminated in a Business Plan Competition, with five winners announced at the event. Mr Eliki Dakuitoga – Qaqi Mai: Bike Share Fiji, Matelita Katamotu – Domoika Hike & Rock Climbing Adventures, Philo Mario – Pocket Nanny Placement Agency, Retesh Narayan – Natures Wonder Products and Wame Waqanaceva – Veikau-Loa Estate are being awarded USD5,000 (approx. FJD10,900) in seed grant funding each to invest in their business growth.

PGEN Incubator Seed Grant Winners with QFFD Delegates. Photo: GGGI Suva

The Fijian Greenpreneurs graduates are part of the regional Pacific Greenpreneurs alumni, comprised of early-stage green enterprises who have completed the program in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Applications for the 2023 Incubator program will be open in the coming months. For more information on the program, visit  www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com