Twenty-nine vendors from Laqere Market in Nasinu have completed a two-day cooperative management training program designed to strengthen the governance, financial management and long-term sustainability of their cooperative as Fiji continues to promote cooperatives as drivers of inclusive economic development.
The participants are members of the Laqere iTaukei Vendors Cooperative Ltd., which was established in 2025. The training was delivered at Laqere Market by the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development's Department of Cooperative Business through the Cooperative Training College.
The program focused on cooperative governance, leadership, financial management, record keeping and the legal responsibilities of registered cooperatives under Fiji's Co-operatives Act. Participants also received practical instruction on budgeting, bookkeeping, financial reporting and enterprise management to improve accountability and support better business decision-making.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director and Registrar of Cooperatives Iosefo Koroidimuri said the success of any cooperative depends on discipline, perseverance and sustained effort.
Quoting Genesis 3:19, Koroidimuri said the passage serves as a reminder that lasting success is achieved through hard work rather than shortcuts.
"It all equates to hard work and to be successful we must take one step at a time," he said.
"You have your targets, your business forecast and the goals you want to achieve as a cooperative, but getting there requires hard work and commitment. There are no shortcuts in business. Every step along the journey matters and every challenge presents an opportunity to grow."
Nasinu Town Council Special Administrator Jone Tuiono congratulated the vendors for investing in skills development and encouraged them to embrace continuous learning despite their years of experience in market trading.
He said significant development planned for Nasinu in the coming years would create new economic opportunities and urged the cooperative to position itself for future growth by applying sound governance practices and investing wisely.
Cooperative member Anaseini Vuidreketi said the training encouraged members to critically assess their operations and address weaknesses before they became larger problems.
She said members gained a clearer understanding of governance, financial management and bookkeeping, while recognizing that transparency, accountability and unity are as important as generating profits in ensuring the cooperative's long-term success.
The Cooperative Management Training forms part of the Cooperative Training College's ongoing outreach program, which aims to strengthen community-based cooperatives across Fiji by equipping members with practical business and governance skills.
The ministry said the program combines internationally recognized cooperative principles with the traditional Fijian concept of solesolevaki—collective community effort—to help communities establish resilient enterprises, improve livelihoods and create sustainable economic opportunities.
