550 more small businesses and individuals have been assisted by government through the Micro-Small Business grant.

Acting PM Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum handed grants of one thousand dollars each to the micro and small business owners in Sigatoka yesterday.

This is the third phase of the handing over of the grants. The first one was in Suva – which benefitted over 300 people and the other one in Navua a week later for over 100 people.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the grants represent government’s commitment to improving the livelihood of all Fijians

“Many of you who are sitting here today may have a small business but who knows in 30 years time or in 20 years time, you could be a big business person. You could also be an organization that could be employing a lot of people. But even if you don’t, with this assistance from government, you’ll be able to improve the quality of whatever service you want to deliver and therefore get more revenue for yourselves.”

The government received over 27,000 applications for the grants. Only 7,000 people qualified.