His Excellency, President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere says national prosperity goes beyond economic development and financial literacy plays a vital role.
While officiating at the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants Annual Congress 2024 held at the Shangri la Resort in Sigatoka, Ratu Wiliame told the participants that as experts in their respective fields, their commitment to upholding ethical practice, good governance, and engaging smart solutions, will shape the progression of their journey, personally, as an organisational entity, and socio-economically as a nation.
He shared that the annual congress is an opportunity to review the first 50 years, celebrate successes, and share lessons learned, to further guide the road ahead.
“Your commitment to good governance and robust financial reporting creates an environment of transparency and trust. These are indispensable components for a functioning democracy and thriving economy,’ he shared.
“FICA’s vision actively pursues this through its financial literacy programs. I commend the agencies that continue to implement work in this area across rural and urban communities, at the same time, I encourage the pursuance of financial literacy programs throughout our maritime islands and communities.”
“National prosperity, however, goes beyond economic development, and depends on financial literacy. In my State address at the opening of the 2024 Parliamentary Session, I affirmed my stance on empowering all citizens of our beloved nation with the financial acumen that would enable them to make informed decisions about savings and investments, and the tools to raise their financial security and self-reliance.”
“I am pleased to note that FICA’s vision actively pursues this through its financial literacy programmes. I commend the agencies that continue to implement work in this area across rural and urban communities, at the same time, I encourage the pursuance of financial literacy programmes throughout our maritime islands and communities.”
He also congratulated the Institute for participating in the first-ever Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Conference that was held in early March of this year.
“Sharing your specialized knowledge and expertise with the MSME sector is important to narrow the knowledge gap as well as elevate the standards in which MSME operate.”
“It was micro and small businesses, through their innovation and resilience that survived, albeit at various degrees, the impacts of COVID-19 and its variances not long ago. I hope that similar partnerships and collaboration continue as we journey together to achieve our nation’s objectives for growth and prosperity.”
“Our nation’s future is based on a forward-thinking, progressive agenda. Government, through the Strategic Planning Office of the Ministry of Finance, is leading the charge with a new National Development Plan aimed at raising the standard of living and well-being of all our people.”
