The South Pacific Business Development has opened its 10th branch in Nausori.

This latest addition extends the SPBD network to 23 branches across the South Pacific, including their operation in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

SPBD General Manager Elrico Munoz says the new branch will serve primarily the Tailevu Province, providing essential financial services and business development opportunities to women in the area.

“SPBD already has a thriving presence in the province currently boasting a loan portfolio of $1.5 million and serving 962 women micro-entrepreneurs organized in 56 villages based groups meeting weekly.”

Munoz adds their mission is to improve the quality of life of underprivileged families by providing them with meaningful economic opportunities.

He says they have reached over 20,000 women and provided them with more than $100 million in unsecured loans over the past 13 years.