Investor Pitch Event Connects Green Enterprises from across Fiji with Potential Investors
[Suva, Fiji - 11 July 2023] The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) successfully held a national Investor Pitch and showcase event for Fiji as part of the inaugural Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator Program. The event brought together a diverse group of Fijian green enterprises, potential investors, and other stakeholders with the intention of fostering connections and presenting unique investment opportunities.
The Accelerator Investor Pitch Event is an initiative by the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) and was held on 11th July, 2023 at the Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva and provided a dynamic platform for high growth-potential green entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas, gain valuable insights, and engage with potential investors. The event marked a significant milestone in driving growth within the green enterprise ecosystem.
Mr. Daniel Muñoz-Smith, GGGI’s Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu welcomed the 10 Fiji Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator participants, panel of judges and guests to the pitching event and wished participants best of luck for their pitches. In his opening remarks, Mr. Muñoz-Smith stated “GGGI is delighted to announce that top two business pitches will be awarded an opportunity to attend and pitch at the ‘finals’ at the regional Demo Day event, to be held in Suva, Fiji on 30-31 August 2023. The winner of the regional Demo Day will also win a study trip to Qatar to meet and engage with Qatar green business owners.”
Mr. Fahad Al-Dehaimi, Head of International Organizations spoke on behalf of GGGI’s funding partner, the Qatar Fund for Development. He said in his recorded remarks, “We encourage all our participants to make the most of this platform. Remember this is not just an opportunity to look for investment but also a chance to learn, grow and make valuable connections.”
Judges from left: Mr. James Mcgoon, iTaukei Trust Fund Board; Ms. Akanisi Veitata, Market Development Facility; Ms. Setaita Tamanikaiyaroi, Fiji Development Bank; Mr. Deepak Prasad, Business Assistance Fiji.
Ten impact-driven Fiji-based enterprises pitched their business to a panel of judges and invited guests. These businesses span various sustainable industries, including Information Technology, circular economy and waste management, sustainable tourism, climate smart agriculture and agro-processing. Each participating enterprise had the opportunity to pitch their business impact and plan, outlining their business proposition, growth strategies, and market potential to convince judges of their potential. The 10 business pitches were assessed by a 4-member panel of judges each representing a potential funder for MSMEs.
After much deliberation, Ms. Talei Tora of GingerLei Fiji, founder of Fiji’s first ginger beer company took out the prestigious first place. Mr. Watesoni Nata Jr. of Salvage Traders Fiji (The Merch) clinched the 1st runner-up award and Ms. Marita Manley of Talanoa Treks was awarded the 2nd runner-up position. GingerLei Fiji and Salvage Traders Fiji will represent Fiji at the regional Demo Day alongside their peers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Mr. Faizal Khan, Director of Cooperatives from the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives & SMEs graced the event as Chief Guest showed his support for the program through his remarks and awarded the certificates to the winners and finalists of the investor pitch event.
2023 Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator Program Fiji participants
Beyond the business pitches, the event offered showcase booths and a platform for networking with like-minded enterprises, investors and ecosystem supporters in Fiji, designed to encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration, offering investors the opportunity to identify promising ventures and establish strategic partnerships and entrepreneurs visibility and the potential for future funding.
The regional Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) is a 3-year project implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to support green entrepreneurship in six Pacific Island countries. The program aims to support green and inclusive job growth by supporting entrepreneurs (particularly women and youth) develop their green and sustainable businesses whose business models include solutions aimed at contributing to their country’s climate sustainable development goals.
About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI):
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports governments of developing countries to transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI delivers programs in over 40 partner countries with technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and by helping to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. More on GGGI’s events, projects, and publications can be found on www.gggi.org. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter and join us on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD):
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) is a Qatari public institution committed, on behalf of the State of Qatar, to implement foreign aid projects by international best practices and standards.
Since 2012, QFFD has been providing aid to many countries in accordance with the international cooperation goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Its primary goal is to achieve inclusive and sustainable development by addressing global priority issues in education, health, and economic development. In this context, priority is given to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
1. SDG 3: "Ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all";
2. SDG 4: "Ensuring fair and inclusive education for all and enhancing lifelong learning for all";
3. SDG 8: "Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and keeping full and productive employment and decent work for all."
To realize the optimal development impact, QFFD projects are also designed to have cross-cutting co-benefits within SDG (2) on "Zero hunger" and SDG (6) on "Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all" in addition to SDG (17) on "Partnerships to Achieve Goals."
QFFD cooperates with many reputable actors through strategic partnerships both locally and internationally. These include Civil Society Organizations, government agencies, UN agencies, and the private sector.
