Fiji Development Bank Becomes the First Financial Institute in the Pacific to Sign ADB WE Code

Suva, Fiji. The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) CEO, Mr. Saud Minam, attended the launch / signing ceremony of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (“WE Finance Code” or “Code”). Following this, was a panel discussion in which he also participated as a panelist.

The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code is a worldwide initiative that aims to help women entrepreneurs by working with policymakers and financial institutions to gather relevant data that encourages a more supportive business environment.

Fiji is one of the first countries after Dominican Republic and Indonesia to pilot this important project, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The main goal of the WE Finance Code is to create a strong environment for women in business, which can help bring more investments and innovations to women-owned or led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (WMSMEs) in Fiji.

Held at the Grand Pacific Hotel, the event gathered key stakeholders from government agencies, private sector, development organizations, financial institutions, and civil society, aiming to raise awareness about the Code and encouraging support for WMSMEs. This ensured that stakeholders know and support the WE Finance Code while collaborating and strategising how it will be implemented.

The FDB CEO, Mr. Saud Minam, highlighted the Bank’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs as they are one of the most essential pillars of our economy.

“The WE Finance Code represents a significant milestone for women entrepreneurs in Fiji, providing another powerful source of working capital that further paves the way for a brighter future, not only for these women-owned businesses, but also for their families and our nation as a whole.”

“It’s highly rewarding to see that the groundbreaking work FDB has put in, is now being duly noted by the right types of foreign interests and that the Bank is viewed as a premier platform to deliver impactful results. This type of project is a validation and vote of confidence in FDB’s exemplary efforts as a ‘women in business’ champion,” he said.