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RC Manubhai Partners With SPBD to Assist Women
RC MANUBHAI and South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) have signed an agreement to help women with small businesses upgrade their homes.
The signing took place at the RC Manubhai retail office in Raiwaqa yesterday. The joint venture will allow women who are members of SPBD to purchase items from RC Manubhai through the loan scheme provided by SPBD.
Director for RC Manubhai, Ashok Patel, said the agreement emphasises on the key values of the project and empowering the future for women.
“Our intention is to make sure every citizen takes the advantage of this opportunity of an upgrade and a complete housing loan,” he said.
Loame Dugu of Toga Rewa, a recipient of the project received a cheque to purchase items worth up to $1100 to upgrade her home.
This loan will help me upgrade our bathroom and toilet at home,” she said. “I sell food packs and flowers in Nausori and with this loan scheme, I will be paying $48 weekly repayment,” she said.
SPBD President, Gregory Casagrande, said the partnership will help SPBD to further provide important materials for rural women to help them further build their businesses and to further improve their homes.
“Since coming to Fiji, we have provided unsecured financing to women micro entrepreneurs in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau amounting to over $16 million,” he said.
“This has been to help women start and grow small cogenerated businesses. We also provide finance for basic housing improvements and childhood education.”
Mr Casagrande added: “I think that there are a lot of opportunities for us to build and grow together to benefit the thousands of families around Fiji.”