Rinesh Sharma

The Honourable
Rinesh Sharma
MP
Sharma in 2023
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for FijiFirst List
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 December 2022
Personal details
Born (1993-04-22) 22 April 1993 (age 31)
Lautoka, Fiji
Political partyFijiFirst

Rinesh Rajesh Sharma (born 22 April 1993) is a Fijian entrepreneur, politician and member of the Parliament of Fiji.[1] He is a member of the FijiFirst party.

Early career and education

In 2018, Sharma graduated from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology in India with a Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering degree. He is originally from Lautoka.[2] He then founded Smarts Fiji which specialises in hydroponics farming.[3] That same year, he was able to secure a government-backed grant to begin automated hydroponics farms on a commercial scale in Fiji.[4]

In February 2020, Sharma was nominated for the 2020 Commonwealth Youth Awards. That same year, he received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to combat the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji.[5]

Political career

Sharma was one of the candidates announced by FijiFirst for the 2022 Fijian general election.[6] He was elected to the Parliament of Fiji with 1,705 votes.[7] At 29, he is the youngest to be serving as a member of parliament.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "Top 55 confirmed". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Three Fijians Shortlisted For Commonwealth Youth Awards". fijisun.com.fj. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Hydroponic farming a convenient option: Sharma". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 25 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Young Fijian Makes Good Use Of Govt Scheme". fijisun.com.fj. 22 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ Chaudhary, Felix (15 May 2020). "Fijian among five people to receive funding from Gates Foundation". FijiTimes. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  6. ^ Journalist, Litia Cava Multimedia (6 October 2022). "FijiFirst announces 20 provisional candidates". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Rinesh Rajesh Sharma (277)". Fijian Elections Office. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Rinesh Sharma Is The Youngest Elected MP". fijisun.com.fj. 21 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Entrepreneur brings skillset to Parliament". FijiLive. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.