The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) is ready to support its customers, including farmers under the government credit guarantee scheme for businesses.
Bank’s chief executive officer Saud Minam said he was pleased to reach out to community leaders who engaged with the grassroots farmers, a mandated target market for FDB.
“We at FDB are happy to say that today’s interactive session had the presence of nine community leaders from across the rural-agro sectors in the Central and Western divisions as well as the maritime communities,” said Mr Minam.
A virtual session was held by the bank with various community leaders representing farmers and small businesses to create more awareness on the government credit guarantee scheme for businesses.
The session was held on August 18 according to a statement from the bank where it made a presentation to representatives from communities such as Tailevu, Togalevu, Nadi, Lautoka, Lami, Bau Island, and Totoya Island.
Mr Minam said they had been holding various Zoom discussions in the past two weeks where they reached out to diverse groups to increase their awareness on FDB COVID-19 Recovery Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Veilawa Rereiwasaliwa, a development committee member of one of the villages represented, said: “Based on my 16 years in the banking industry and spending the last seven years working with farmers, the features of the current funding program is revolutionary, especially with no payment for the first two years and simplifying the requirements.
“It is the first of its kind that takes the current challenges being faced by farmers and SMEs into consideration.
“Giving credit where it’s due, the Government has made a bold move to provide up to 90 per cent security for this and it shows that it’s putting its money where its mouth is,” he said.
Other participants apart from Mr Rereiwasaliwa were Napolioni Batimala, Leone Rotuivaqali, Sitiveni Marovia, Alifereti Kikau, Eroni Cinavilakeba, Apenisa Seniloli, Esira Kini, and Joseph Magnus.
