Siunipa Nimo

A mother of five, Siunipa Nimo (45), won a business award on May 10 for improving her small homemade baking business using the South Pacific Business Development Microfinance program.

Siunipa from the village of Vaini, joined the program in 2009 and took out small loans to help expand her homemade baking business she was running with her husband at home. She sells her pastries to various retail stores in Tongatapu to support her family.

The third annual SPBD Tonga Businesswoman of the Year Award recognized that accomplishment and was presented by SPBD founder and owner Greg Casagrande and 'Ofa Tu'ikolovatu CEO of Gio Recycling, who was the guest of honour at the event held at Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

Other awards included Best Saver, Best Centre Savings, Centre Secretary and Centre Chief.

SPBD

Casagrande said this year they will provide over TOP$20 million in unsecured credit to their micro-entrepreneur clients across the South Pacific.

He said the company which operates in Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga began 13-years ago on a mission to provide underprivileged families with meaningful economic opportunity. "We have done this by providing our clients with training, unsecured credit and ongoing guidance and motivation to help them start and expand small income generated businesses," he said.

General Manager Amy Lofgren said the micro finance program provides access to financial services to over 4,500 low income self-employed and unemployed women in Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu.

"We believe by providing access to credit, savings, life insurance, business and financial literacy training and on-going guidance and support the members of SPBD are able to start and run their own small businesses."

She said since the office was opened in Tonga in 2009, they have put over $17 million pa'anga to members to improve their businesses, home and ensure their children are attending school.

The loans to women are based on three conditions, and are for running of small businesses, housing improvement and children's education. They provide a minimum loan of $1,000 pa'anga at interest rates of 25 percent per annum with a maximum loan of $5,000 pa'anga.