Around 80 participants attended a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop held on the island of Lakeba in the Lau Province, held from Monday 18 to Tuesday 19 August. The exercise is part of an ongoing collaboration between the iTaukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB) and Maxumise. This partnership aims to support provinces across Fiji in developing Strategic and Business Plans for their various income-generating ventures.

Participants came from the eight villages across Lakeba. The workshop was officially opened by the Turaga na Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara. His presence throughout the training underscored his strong commitment to the vanua and his leadership in driving such development initiatives.

For the people of Lakeba, livelihoods are primarily dependent on marine resources, copra, pine, and other natural assets. The training provided valuable insights into sustainable resource management and strategic planning. With these tools, participants are now better equipped to safeguard their resources and ensure long-term benefits for future generations.

TTFB looks forward to expanding this training to other provinces, with growing interest not only at the provincial level but also within individual tikina.