SPBD support helps women grow businesses and incomes

Women entrepreneurs across the Pacific are successfully turning their small businesses into sustainable sources of income, largely crediting the South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) program for their growth. These women, engaged in diverse ventures from catering and baking to fruit juice sales and poultry farming, have found that access to small-business loans provided by SPBD has unlocked significant opportunities.

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Before I discovered SPBD, I was in a dark place in life, but when I came to know about SPBD, I was able to start my business. They helped us a lot.

Fulori Tagavira, a 64-year-old participant, shared how SPBD support transformed her catering business. She described her life before discovering SPBD as "a dark place" but found the program instrumental in starting her business. Tagavira now earns over $200 daily, enabling her to fund her children's tertiary education independently. "I am 64 years old now, but I am still going strong," she stated.

Another entrepreneur, Laisa Katarina, has expanded her fruit juice business by diversifying into frozen produce sales and poultry farming. She credits SPBD with providing the confidence and support needed to explore these new avenues. "SPBD made it easier, especially for us as women, to expand our businesses," Katarina noted.

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I was able to pay for my children’s tertiary education myself. I am 64 years old now, but I am still going strong.

SPBD highlights that its focus on supporting women entrepreneurs is a key strategy for building stronger communities. By enabling women to establish and grow small businesses, the program contributes to more stable household incomes and greater financial independence for families.

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SPBD made it easier, especially for us as women, to expand our businesses.