Nabilah S
Fiji’s first-ever Pacific Agri-Innovate Competition and Pitching Event is set to serve as a crucial platform, bringing together stakeholders, farmers, investors, technology experts, and policymakers
Shaheen Ali, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, highlighted that the competition is designed to identify, support, and spotlight innovative agri-businesses with strong growth potential across the Pacific region.
He stated that the competition aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas, fostering innovation, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to the growth of the agri-food sector.
“This competition, as I see it, is only the beginning. The ideas presented today have the potential, as mentioned earlier, to revolutionise not just agriculture in Fiji but possibly the entire Pacific region, ultimately addressing food and nutrition security challenges once and for all,” he remarked.
Eleven participants will compete, with three winners advancing to represent their ideas at the 2024 Pacific Small Island Developing States Solutions Forum, scheduled to take place in Nadi this November.
The Pacific Agri-Innovate Competition is spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in collaboration with Business Assistance Fiji. The initiative is funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the European Union.
