The Coalition Government today reaffirmed its commitment to empowering communities through co-operatives and embracing the traditional principle of “solesolevaki” as a foundation for collective progress.
Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka made these remarks while officiating the launch of the International Year of Co-operatives 2025 in Nausori.
With the theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” the PM emphasised that this aligns with Fiji’s national vision of co-operatives as a driving force for change and community prosperity.
“As we commemorate this global initiative, let us reaffirm Fiji’s national vision for co-operatives which is to empower communities through collective action, rooted in the timeless Fijian principle of solesolevaki,” he told those in attendance.
“For generations, this ethos has guided our progress—from village councils advancing shared development goals to women’s co-operatives fostering economic opportunities—aligning with our commitment to inclusive growth, social equity, and sustainable development as outlined in Fiji’s National Development Plan.”
PM Rabuka stated that co-operatives are more than just business models; they represent a way of life.
“They embody the spirit of togetherness, resilience, and empowerment. At their core, co-operatives unite individuals who share common goals, providing the foundation for sustainable development and economic growth,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, the Head of the Coalition Government highlighted that Fijian co-operative serves as catalysts for socio-economic empowerment, providing countless opportunities for our farmers, fisher folk, artisans and entrepreneurs.
“The Coalition Government recognises that co-operatives are critical partners for achieving Fiji’s long-term socio-economic goals. This is underlined by our supportive assistance programmes and initiatives available in various Government Ministries.”
Meanwhile, Fiji presently has about 715 registered co-operatives operating across 15 different sectors and consisting of about 40,000 members.
Collectively, these co-operatives hold $151 million in assets whilst generating $26million in revenue and $2.5million in profits.
These figures alone demonstrate broad-based economic engagement and untapped potential of co-operatives to further enhance our socio-economic development.
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