Ministry received 80 applications for registration of cooperatives during pandemic

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Minister for Commerce, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya while delivering his address at the Fiji Seascape Symposium. Picture: Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport FIJI

Eighty applications for registration of cooperatives were received by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was revealed during a panel discussion at the Fiji Seascape Symposium in Suva, and attributed to incidences of job losses where people returned to their villages to farm.

It was also noted that the Department of Co-operative Business – under the ministry – had been receiving weekly registrations.

In his address last week, Minister for Commerce and Trade Faiyaz Koya commended the symposium in that it was looking to use the co-operatives business model as its conduit to successfully implement initiatives that protected the ocean and its resources.

He said co-operatives were a grassroot, private sector-led solution, where communities pool resources to build a business.

“And because we are such a large ocean state, most of these businesses are blue,” Mr Koya said.

He said the department embarked to develop businesses, create livelihoods and empower Fijians.

“We arm co-operatives with the necessary resources that ensure long term sustainability – we train – we support – we guide.

“This business model has been essential in the development of our rural communities. Why – because of its inclusiveness and member driven principles.

“Now co-operatives are seen as an attractive and bankable business model.”

The Minister said they continued to monitor co-operative business progress and provide the relevant support where needed.

Teams from the ministry had recently returned from a three-week tour of the Lau group, and visited at least 23 of the 29 operating co-operatives, and provided business advisory services and training.

Mr Koya said co-operatives in the Lau group engaged predominantly in the wholesale and retail sector given the remoteness and the demand for goods.

He said those co-operatives were now considering diversifying into fishing, agriculture, banking and value addition.

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