On December 16, 2025, Esrom Immanuel, Fiji’s Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, launched the country’s first-ever Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Strategic Plan 2025–2030. The objectives of the Plan are to achieve MSME contribution to Gross Domestic Product to 40 percent by 2030; Close the $2.2 billion MSME finance gap through stronger financial partnerships and inclusion; Streamline regulations and improve access to essential business services and technologies; Build stronger training, mentorship and innovation ecosystems; and Reinforce partnerships between Government, private sector and development partners to deliver coordinated support.
The MSME Strategic Plan is anchored on eight priority areas. The priority area is Data and Definition, which entails establishing a clear, national MSME definition and a centralised database so that policies, incentives, and programmes are guided by reliable information rather than assumptions. Coordination states positioning the Ministry as a central coordinator of MSME initiatives—aligning programmes, reducing duplication, and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most, while respecting the mandates of existing agencies and partners. The Co–operative Movement involves modernising the co‑operative sector through legal reforms, digital registration, updated databases, and targeted capacity‑building, so that co‑operatives can better participate in markets and value chains; while Regulation and Compliance focuses on simplifying processes, improving awareness, and building a more supportive relationship between MSMEs and regulatory bodies, including tax and licensing authorities.
The next set of priority areas addresses enterprise growth and market engagement. Entrepreneurship Support entails expanding training, mentorship, and incubation opportunities, with targeted support for women, youth and rural enterprises. Access to Finance states working with financial institutions and partners to diversify financial products, improve financial literacy and record‑keeping, promote digital payments, and explore options for dedicated MSME financing mechanisms to narrow the finance gap. Market Access focuses on supporting MSMEs to access domestic, regional, and international markets through e–commerce, branding and logistics improvement; and Workforce and Skills involves addressing labour and skills gaps through targeted training, promoting women’s participation, and supporting policies that make it easier for MSMEs to recruit, retain, and upskill their workforce.
Significantly, an MSME database has also been launched simultaneously with the Strategic Plan 2025-2030. According to Esron Immanuel, “For the first time, Fiji will have a national, centralised, and secure platform that captures key data on MSMEs across all sectors and regions. This includes information such as business size, location, employment, sector, and key challenges.” The MSME database is an attempt to streamline information. It will also enable the MSME to ply for the five MSME Grant Programmes through the MSME Portal. The five MSME Grant Programmes include the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme, the National Export Strategy, the Trade Enhancement Programme, the Young Entrepreneurship Scheme, and the Northern Development Programme in one centralised portal. The Database has been designed to enable more evidence‑based policymaking and budgeting, better‑targeted programmes that respond to actual needs, including those of women‑ and youth‑led enterprises, and stronger coordination among government, development partners, and business support providers, reducing overlap and improving impact.
According to a statement by the Fiji Government, “these landmark initiatives are designed to build a stronger, smarter and more connected ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs in every corner of Fiji, from urban centres to rural and maritime communities. With a shared vision and unity of purpose, the Government is confident that these initiatives will play a central role in building a more prosperous, inclusive and resilient Fiji.” The MSME Strategic Plan 2025-203 is thus aimed at achieving a more inclusive, data-driven, and resilient MSME sector in the country.
