The bank receives 1,600 loan applications

The Fiji Development Bank had received over 1,600 applications under the Women Entrepreneur Loan Scheme.


Titilia Kamil (middle), Managing Director of Relations and Sales at Fiji Development Bank, with women entrepreneurs, (left to right) Seema Mohan, Sofia Ali, Melaia Adi and May Fong on September 23,202. Photo: Laisa Lui.

The Fiji Development Bank had received over 1,600 applications under the Women Entrepreneur Loan Scheme.

FDB Managing Director Saud Minam said the number of apps was promising after its launch on August 1.

Mr Minam said the total number of applications received was nearly 6 million.

“It is a great success and we would like to continue the program,” Mr Minam said.

“We received applications from different segments, such as construction, catering, floriculture and crafts.

“We have processed 35% of the request and we are still processing requests and we are not stopping.

“All of these apps came to meet digital needs,” he said.

Mr. Minam said the goal is to increase their female customer base by 11% to 25% over the next few years.

Managing Director of Relations and Sales, Titilia Kamil, said: “With this facility, 10% equity provided by the government and without any guarantees.

“From a Bank, relationship and sales perspective, we encourage all of our women entrepreneurs to take advantage of this time to submit applications through the portals or call the branch to maximize the opportunity.

One of the women entrepreneurs who benefited from this facility was Sofia Ali, owner of a general construction company.

Ms. Ali has run her business 786 Dream Build Contractors for 13 years.

“I am very grateful to FDB for this loan facility as it has helped improve my business,” Ms. Ali said.

“Thanks to the loan, I bought more tools for my construction workers to help them and speed up their work.”

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