CAPTION: His Excellency Andrew Jacobs officially opened the farmers conference organised by FRIEND.
The Head of the European Union’s Delegation for the Pacific, Ambassador Andrew Jacobs, opened the FRIEND’S GROW Farmer Conference, in Labasa yesterday.
Ambassador Jacobs also took this opportunity to visit two projects, a kindergarten and a water reservoir of the FairTrade certified Labasa Cane Producers Association in Tabia village. The European Union assisted with the establishment of the FairTrade Cane Producers Association, as well as, on its capacity building.
The Ambassador called on the extension services workshop at the Labasa Sugar Mill. The workshop is jointly organised by the FSC and the FairTrade Coordination Unit. The FairTrade Coordination Unit is funded by the EU through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Last projects visited were a mobile stationery shop, an upholstery, a fish vendor and a dried fish seller. These small businesses are owned by small local entrepreneurs like Rajstek and Seini. These aspiring business men and women were enabled through rural credit (micro loans) provided by the European Union, through Empower Pacific, to open their own businesses.
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