The Graduation Program for women artisans is another milestone to this year’s National Women’s Expo.

This comes after 5 women were recognized for successfully securing markets and venturing into their own businesses.

Speaking at the expo in Suva yesterday, First Lady Sarote Konrote says through the graduation phase – the Ministry of Women envisages that the tourism sector engage more with artisans in the informal sector.

“The Tourism Industry holds Fiji’s largest share of GDP with the total proportion of 25% (ADB 2019), yet the contribution of women in this share is still invisible. Therefore, the need for strategic interventions in elevating the status of women and providing means of this shift from informal to formal employment in a cross-sectoral method is very important.”

She also reveals that some significant segments have been organized for this year’s expo as build-up programmes and it will feature during the event.

These programs are the handing-over of Fijian Crafted Licenses and the Fiji Rural Women’s Fashion Show.

500 women artisans are part of the expo which is a massive number compared to last year – which brought together a total of 340 women who collectively raised more than $430,000 of total sales.

The event continues at Laucala Bay today and will end tomorrow.