Private sector investment is key to unlocking the full tourism potential of Vanua Levu.

Business leaders, entrepreneurs, and local officials met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Viliame Gavoka, together with Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region, Gallina A. Vincelette, World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services, and Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific over a Business Leaders lunch at Nawi Island to discuss how sustainable tourism can drive jobs, investment, and long-term growth in the Northern Division.

Through our 10-year, US$200M Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu #NaVualikuProject will strengthen infrastructure and create an enabling environment that helps crowd in private investment, grow businesses, and expand economic opportunities across Vanua Levu.

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Across Vanua Levu, many women entrepreneurs and Community-Based Tourism (CBT) enterprises have the ideas and cultural assets to participate in tourism but often face limited access to skills, networks, and investment.

The #NaVualikuProject is helping close this gap by strengthening MSMEs, CBTs and supporting women-led enterprises so tourism growth translates into real opportunities for local communities.

During their visit to Fiji, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region, Gallina A. Vincelette, World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services, and Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Viliame Gavoka met with the women of Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei ni Cakaudrove – The Society for Indigenous Women of the Cakaudrove Province to hear directly from those helping shape resilient communities and local enterprise across the province. Representing indigenous women across all districts of Cakaudrove Province, the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Cakaudrove mobilises grassroots leadership and supports women-led initiatives that strengthen communities, culture, and local enterprise.

Supporting MSMEs, community-based tourism enterprises, and women entrepreneurs is a key pillar of the Project’s work to ensure tourism development in Vanua Levu and Taveuni is inclusive, locally driven, and economically empowering for all Fijians.

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