Each year on 27 June, the world celebrates Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day and recognises the vital role these businesses play in driving innovation, employment and inclusive growth.

In Fiji, this recognition transcends symbolism - it serves as a timely testament to the nation’s commitment to empowering MSMEs as vital drivers of sustainable development, while also urging the continued enhancement of the partnerships, collaboration and policies that underpin their success.

MSMEs are the heart of Fiji’s economy. This is evident as they make up close to 80 percent of registered businesses and contribute over 18 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. These include the tailors in Lautoka, the bakers in Levuka, the tourism operators in Taveuni and the digital start-ups in Suva; businesses that shape the daily rhythm of economic and social life.

MSMEs play a crucial role in driving inclusive prosperity by fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and empowering diverse communities. Women-owned enterprises account for nearly 19 percent of formal MSMEs in Fiji, and thousands more women operate in the informal sector. Yet despite their contributions, many MSMEs remain underserved and undercounted. Structural barriers, such as a lack of access to finance, limited business data, and informal operating conditions, continue to constrain their growth.

Knowing Our MSMEs to Grow Our Economy

One of the most significant reforms currently underway is the development of Fiji’s National MSME Database (‘database’) – a game-changing, government-led initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This platform will, for the first time, provide a centralised, live picture of the MSME landscape across the country.

Why is this important? Because reliable, consolidated data is key to understanding and supporting the diverse needs of MSMEs, especially those led by women and youth. The new database helps bridge existing information gaps, enabling more targeted support, better policy design, and improved coordination across government and partners.

It aims to streamline five of the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises grant programmes into a single system that enables real-time verification of business and applicant identity using national registries. It incorporates tailored workflows for each grant with built-in monitoring and evaluation tools that will track enterprise performance over a five to seven-year span, including indicators such as employment, revenue, market expansion and most importantly, their efforts towards contributing towards the sustainable development goals.

The database will also capture gender, geographic location, and business ownership structure, allowing for more targeted support and inclusive economic planning. For example, women-owned and rural-based MSMEs can now be more easily identified and supported, ensuring no one is left behind.

The platform is being developed locally, ensuring that the system reflects local realities and aligns with the broader Fijian Made initiative. This collaboration demonstrates how international support and domestic innovation can work together to empower national systems and promote inclusive economic growth.

By investing in local expertise, the initiative also supports Fiji’s digital economy and strengthens national capacity for future innovation.

Additionally, the database will play a crucial role in supporting the Ministry to make informed decisions and effectively implement the key recommendations outlined in the MSME Strategic Plan, which is currently being finalised.

Grounding Policy in People's Realities

Data systems and digital infrastructure are crucial, but they must be grounded in the lived realities of those they are meant to serve.

That’s where initiatives like Markets for Change (M4C) come in – a project implemented by UNDP in partnership with UN Women, generously supported by the Australian Government.

Since 2014, Markets for Change has supported over 7,000 market vendors across Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, 90 percent of them women. In Fiji alone, 2,117 women have improved their financial literacy, and 2,830 have built stronger business management skills. Many have transitioned from informal trading to formally registered businesses, allowing them to access grants, expand operations, and build resilience.

One such story is that of Misiana Veta, a market vendor in Ba. With support from the Saver Plus programme under M4C, she began recording her income, setting financial goals, and is now closer to purchasing a vehicle to transport her produce – something she and her family have long aspired to. For Ms. Veta, financial empowerment is not just about profit; it’s about dignity, mobility, and independence.

Beyond individual empowerment, M4C has helped improve infrastructure, strengthen women’s roles in market governance, and make public spaces safer and more accessible. It shows that when policy, partnerships, and community-level engagement come together, transformation is possible, not just in numbers, but in lives.

A Whole-of-Society Approach

MSMEs journey in Fiji is not just a Government effort, it requires a whole-of-society mission. It involves ministries, municipal councils, business chambers, civil society, donors, academia, private sectors and development partners working hand in hand to break down barriers and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Our long-term vision is clear: to support private-sector-led economic diversification that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient, especially for Pacific Island nations navigating overlapping challenges from climate change to global economic volatility.

Looking Ahead

This MSME Day, we reaffirm a shared commitment: to know our MSMEs better, to serve them more effectively, and to support them holistically.

Because when we count and include MSMEs, we empower communities, grow local economies, and invest in futures that are resilient, inclusive, and proudly Fijian.