Close to 1,500 small business entrepreneurs in the northern division have gone through the process of acquiring small capital grants from the Northern Development Programme to kick start their businesses.

FBC News reporter, Savaira Tabua filed this report.

“Most of the micro and small businesses in the northern division benefit from the assistance provided by the Northern Development Programme. NDP manager Waisea Tuidama told FBC News that they have funded 1471 projects in Vanua Levu, which includes sugar cane farming, poultry, fishing, rural canteen, market canteen. He says NDP provides more grants to the fishing sector with a total of $2.5m compared to other businesses as Vanua Levu has very rich fishing ground. Government has given $5m for the initiative with the aim of stopping people migrating to Viti Levu and also improve the livelihood and not only that as it creates employment. Tuidama is calling on the people of Vanua Levu to make use of the resources that is available to start off their businesses and request financial assistance from the northern development programme."