The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) and the South Pacific Stock Exchange co-hosted a “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event at the RBF to mark International Women’s Day, bringing together government, financial sector and other stakeholders around the theme of accelerating gender parity. The bell ringing aligned Fiji with the global stock exchange initiative and was positioned as a call to action to make financial systems more inclusive for women and girls. The event highlighted the role of financial institutions in expanding women’s access to financial services, investment opportunities and economic decision-making, with the RBF Governor emphasising the link between inclusivity, innovation and economic growth. It also convened signatories to the Asian Development Bank’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE-Fi Code), with total pledges rising from four institutions in 2024 to 11, including the RBF and a range of ministries, banks, finance companies and other ecosystem participants. The WE-Fi Code commitments include appointing a gender champion, developing tailored solutions for women entrepreneurs and tracking progress, with the initiative expected to support women-led micro, small and medium enterprises through more timely access to appropriate and affordable financial products and services.
Reserve Bank of Fiji 2025-03-07
Reserve Bank of Fiji co-hosts Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event as WE-Fi Code commitments reach 11 institutions
The Reserve Bank of Fiji and the South Pacific Stock Exchange co-hosted a "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" event on International Women’s Day, highlighting financial institutions' role in enhancing women's access to financial services. The event also increased signatories to the Asian Development Bank’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, with commitments to appoint gender champions and develop tailored solutions for women entrepreneurs.