Access to affordable gluten-free and vegan products could soon become easier, as local entrepreneur Neha Narayan works to fill a gap in Fiji’s market and eventually expand into exports.

The former accountant turned entrepreneur identified the high cost and limited availability of gluten-free and vegan products locally as an opportunity to develop her own business.

With support from the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation through a grant, and funding assistance from the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Service (TSLS), Narayan took up a two-month training programme aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses.

For Narayan, the programme is an important step towards turning her business dream into reality.

She believes Fiji has employment opportunities, but says people should also consider alternatives to conventional career paths and explore ways to create employment for themselves and others.

The Start-up Grant Programme offers aspiring entrepreneurs business and market training, along with a $5,000 start-up grant.

Participants also receive linkages to other funding opportunities, product development support and guidance to help them establish and operate their businesses.

Narayan hopes her venture will not only improve access to gluten-free and vegan products in Fiji but eventually create opportunities to take locally developed products into overseas markets.