A total of 8,029 jobs have been created and supported by the Northern Development Program.
The Northern Development Program focuses on the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Northern Division.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade says that this number of jobs created represents about one supported job for every seven members of the working age population in Vanua Levu.
It adds that jobs created are mainly in agriculture and fisheries including; farmers, farm workers, fishermen, fishing crews, cane farmers, cane cutters and market vendors.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also highlighted that since its inception in January 2008, Northern Development Program has assisted 2,294 projects.
It says that altogether a total of $21.5 million in value of grants and loans has been accessed by enterprises in the North under the Northern Development Program.
