Women market vendors to have better facilities The bid to improve market facilities for women vendors received a huge boost yesterday.
A cheque of $871,866 was given to the Ministry of Local Government by UN Women.
The donation is for the Lautoka, Ba and Labasa town councils to upgrade their markets for women vendors.
Seven other councils and markets are in the process of receiving funding as well.
“The Ministry provides funds to the municipalities through challenge fund to improve the market facilities. But here we have a partner who has come on board to support our women in particular throughout the country,” said Minister for Local Government and Infrastructure, Parveen Kumar.
Through the Market for Change initiative, the donation will help women market vendors have a safe facility to sell their produce.
“Women market vendors are a vibrant and vital part of the Fijian economy. Market places plays a central role to the livelihoods of many Fijian households and strong contributors to the National GDP,” added Aleta Miller, the Office Representative of UN Women Pacific.