Twenty four companies were awarded Fijian Made Certificates today.

These companies will now be able to use the ‘Fijian Made’ emblem to market their products.

Some of the big names include United Apparel Pacific Batteries Viti Foods and a number of other manufacturers.

Trade Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum sys the Buy Fiji Made campaign isn’t just about million dollar companies.

“The smaller companies they need to be given a hand, when they grow they also hire more people and I think they not only create jobs but improve the quality of jobs they do and improve remuneration these people get over a period of time.”

These companies are less exposed to the International market and Khaiyum says there is an urgent need to support Fijian businesses to reduce dependence on imports.

“If you support Fijian businesses you are then importing less, it means less of your money goes outside, you support Fijian businesses there will be higher Fijian people will be working, because lot of companies here some of them are big companies-job already so if you go and buy these products they will invest more.”

He then went on to say that this program must be carried out on a sustainable level, giving an example of tomorrows Kula Film awards.

“High school students are the future leaders of tomorrow, they are the future mums and dad, they are the future consumers of tomorrow, so they will be making those sorts of decisions, of course many of them have been influenced over the buying plan in the family, they will be telling the parents what to buy and they will be influencing them.”

The Ministry has a three year marketing plan for Buy Fiji Made Products.