MSME Council

Did you know that it is illegal to accept payment for goods and services without being able to supply as ordered?

Section 88 of the Act 2010 prohibits businesses from accepting payment for goods or services that it does not intend to supply or is unable to supply. Or, supplying goods or services materially different from the goods or services in respect of which the payment is accepted.

If this has happened to you, report it to us immediately through one of our contact channels at http://linktr.ee/fijianccc

𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐎. 𝟏𝟎 𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐀𝐖

𝘍𝘪𝘫𝘪 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘵 1973

𝐒𝐔𝐕𝐀, 𝐅𝐈𝐉𝐈, 𝟐𝟖 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - The Tourism Bill No. 10 of 2026 was today passed into law, modernising Fiji’s tourism legislation for the first time in decades. The new Tourism Act 2026 repeals and replaces the Hotel and Guest Houses Act 1973, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to reflect the scale, diversity and evolving complexity of Fiji’s modern tourism industry.

Fiji now welcomes close to one million visitors annually, supported by a broad network of hotels, resorts, tour operators, and community-based experiences, including hiking, camping, and platforms such as Airbnb. The legislation that previously governed this sector was developed in the 1970s, when the industry operated at a fraction of its current size.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, said the enactment of the Tourism Act 2026 is a direct response to the growth and evolution of the industry. "Over the last 20 years, Fiji has doubled its visitor numbers. Our communities are more deeply involved in tourism than ever before, and the expectations of travellers and investors alike have changed significantly. It is time our laws reflected that reality."

The Act introduces a framework that covers tourism enterprise registration and recognition, national tourism standards, sustainability and compliance provisions, protections for indigenous and cultural knowledge, and clearer pathways for community participation in the industry. The Act was developed through consultations with industry representatives, community groups, micro, small and medium enterprises, and Government agencies.

"This legislation did not happen overnight," Minister Gavoka said. "It was shaped by the voices of communities, operators, and stakeholders from across the country. We thank everyone who took part in the consultations and who contributed to getting us here today."

The Hotel and Guest Houses Act 1973 will be repealed when the Tourism Act 2026 comes into force, on a date directed by the Minister.

- 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 -

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𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐂 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏 𝐅𝐈𝐉𝐈'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐄𝐑-𝐓𝐎-𝐏𝐄𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌.

The Ministry of Commerce and Business Development (Ministry), together with the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) and the Asian Development Bank's Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), announces ThirdRoc as the selected partner to design and develop Fiji's first peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform.

Following a rigorous process by the Judging Panel, ThirdRoc were selected through a competitive Request for Proposals (RfP) process, issued through the Fiji Innovation Hub in January 2026 and made possible by the Access to Business Funding Act 2025 which enables innovative financing mechanisms including P2P lending, equity crowdfunding, and small offers regimes. P2P lending will help reduce some of the usual hurdles that MSMEs face in accessing finance. This is by connecting MSMEs directly with lenders through a secure digital platform. The RfP attracted strong interest from firms.

"We were impressed by the strong field of proposals, particularly the depth of technical capability we have here in Fiji. This shows that Fiji is open for innovation and that the Government’s reform agenda is gaining real traction," said the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development and Co-Chair of the Access to Business Funding Implementation Taskforce, Hon. Esrom Immanuel.

"We look forward to working with the selected partner, ThirdRoc, to expand financing opportunities for MSMEs."

ThirdRoc is the Fijian subsidiary of the Australian-headquartered fintech, focused on alternative credit and enterprise lending technology across the Pacific. The company backed by Antler Australia also holds a Credit Representative Licence with ASIC, is a member of AFCA, and has experience delivering AI-supported credit systems in regulated environments.

By combining consented data, AI-driven insights and regional partnerships, ThirdRoc enables faster, safer and more equitable lending for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and is progressing a Fijian structure for a proposed P2P platform aligned with RBF governance and licensing requirements. ThirdRoc is engaging with potential consortium partners and financial investors to support the launch of the platform.

Supporting the decision, Taskforce Co-chair and Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Ariff Ali, said, "Fiji is leading the Pacific in opening up new, innovative pathways to finance for businesses and the Reserve Bank of Fiji is committed to ensuring these pathways are developed with strong investor protections and sound risk management. ThirdRoc's proven technology, deep experience, and clear commitment to working within Fiji's regulatory framework gives us confidence in their ability to deliver a platform that meets these standards."

"PSDI is proud to have supported the Government of Fiji and the Reserve Bank through the development of the Access to Business Funding Act and the work to bring its implementation to this point," said Jeremy Cleaver, PSDI's Financing Growth Specialist. "P2P lending has the potential to genuinely expand access to finance for MSMEs in Fiji, including those that have been underserved by the traditional channels, and we are excited to continue supporting this important new market as it takes shape."

ThirdRoc will now enter a support phase through the Fiji Innovation Hub, including participation in a tailored Accelerator Programme that incorporates knowledge transfer and engagement with experienced international P2P lending practitioners. The accelerator phase aims to deliver a launch-ready platform design in the third quarter of 2026, with pilot and rollout milestones to be confirmed in due course.

“Since establishing our presence in Fiji, we have worked closely with partners to improve access to finance for MSMEs and entrepreneurs, while giving lenders and investors greater visibility and confidence in how credit is assessed and monitored.” said Shiv Maharaj, Director, ThirdRoc. “We are working through the RBF process with local institutions to ensure the model is structured safely and built for Fiji’s long-term needs.”

The Ministry, together with the RBF and PSDI, extends its sincere appreciation to all firms that submitted proposals and to those who showed interest and support throughout the process. The strong response reflects a shared commitment to advancing inclusive financial solutions and improving access to finance for MSMEs, and we acknowledge with gratitude the time and expertise contributed by all participants.

PSDI is an Asian Development Bank technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand.