A major milestone under the Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agri-Food Systems (STODAS) was celebrated today in Suva with the launch of the Fiji–Pacific Agri-Innovate Competition 2025 by the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Hon. Esrom Immanuel, and Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna.
The Competition reflects a strong partnership between the Fiji Government, the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Business Assistance Fiji (BAF). It aims to strengthen food systems, build agribusiness capacity, and drive innovation among micro and small enterprises across Fiji.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Immanuel acknowledged the success of the 2024 edition, which brought together the region’s top agribusiness innovators. Nine winners — three each from Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands — had the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the 2024 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum in Nadi.
“The Fiji–Pacific Agri-Innovate Competition is an investment in our people and our future,” Hon. Immanuel said. “We encourage all MSMEs, youth innovators, and women-led businesses to seize this opportunity.”
The 2025 Competition will identify high-potential agribusinesses and support them through innovation, value-addition, sustainability and investment-readiness programmes. Over the 2025–2026 cycle, 20 enterprises will benefit from training, mentoring, incubation and market-access support.
The programme is closely linked to the newly established Agribusiness Incubation Centre in Suva, supported by the EU and FAO. The Centre provides structured mentoring, technical training, and market-readiness development — giving promising agripreneurs a clear pathway from concept to commercialisation. Interest has been strong, with 40 enquiries received from across Fiji, including a significant number from women-led enterprises and young farmers.
Hon. Immanuel highlighted real-world impact, citing chef-turned-farmer Asaeli Uluimoala, who expanded his farming operation, created jobs, and partnered with FAO after receiving seed funding in 2024.
“Stories like Asaeli’s show how targeted support can unlock economic opportunities and drive transformation in our agri-food sector,” he said.
“As Government, our role is to unlock potential — by improving access to finance, markets, technology and business skills. This is how we ensure farmers become entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs become exporters, and Fiji becomes more prosperous and food-secure.”
Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna, reinforced the importance of aligning production systems with commerce-driven market growth.
“As Minister Immanuel has emphasised, agriculture is central to our national economic diversification and export ambitions,” said Hon. Tunabuna.
“Our Ministry is upgrading production systems — through resilient planting materials, on-farm technology and climate-smart practices — so that MSMEs have a stronger supply base to feed into the value-adding and export opportunities driven through the Competition. When agriculture and commerce move together, we create real incomes and wealth for rural communities.”
FAO Assistant Representative to Fiji, Ms. Joann Young, highlighted how the initiative serves as a regional benchmark for partnership-driven innovation.
“What is remarkable about this programme is the collaboration — Government ministries, BAF, the European Union and FAO aligning policy, skills development and market access in one pipeline,” said Ms. Young.
“This ‘idea-to-industry’ model ensures that agripreneurs are not left to struggle alone. We are equipping them with research, business support, finance and investment readiness so they can scale confidently. This is exactly how we build a modern, globally competitive agri-sector for Fiji.”
The Honourable Ministers extended their gratitude to the EU, FAO and Business Assistance Fiji for their continued partnership.
The Fiji–Pacific Agri-Innovate Competition 2025 is now open for applications.
Apply here: https://pacificagri-innovate.org/application-form/
—ENDS—
