Rinesh Sharma Explained

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]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: 18 December 2022 . Top 55 confirmed . 21 January 2023 . Fiji Broadcasting Corporation . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223040948/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ . live .
2. Web site: 24 February 2022 . Three Fijians Shortlisted For Commonwealth Youth Awards . 22 January 2023 . fijisun.com.fj . en-US . 28 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220128031655/https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/02/24/three-fijiansshortlisted-for-commonwealth-youth-awards/ . live .
3. Web site: 25 November 2018 . Hydroponic farming a convenient option: Sharma . 22 January 2023 . Fiji Broadcasting Corporation . 22 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230122013645/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/hydroponic-farming-a-convenient-option-sharma/ . live .
4. Web site: 22 September 2018 . Young Fijian Makes Good Use Of Govt Scheme . 22 January 2023 . fijisun.com.fj . en-US . 5 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805135545/https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/09/22/young-fijian-makes-good-use-of-govt-scheme/ . live .
5. Web site: Chaudhary . Felix . 15 May 2020 . Fijian among five people to receive funding from Gates Foundation . 22 January 2023 . FijiTimes . en . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117062128/https://www.fijitimes.com/fijian-among-five-people-to-receive-funding-from-gates-foundation/ . live .
6. Web site: Journalist . Litia Cava Multimedia . 6 October 2022 . FijiFirst announces 20 provisional candidates . 21 January 2023 . Fiji Broadcasting Corporation . 22 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022095141/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/fijifirst-announced-20-provisional-candidates/ . live .
7. Web site: Rinesh Rajesh Sharma (277) . 21 January 2023 . Fijian Elections Office . 22 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230122013653/https://2022results.feo.org.fj/Home/CandidateResults?Id=105&CandidateBallotNumber=277&Year=2022+Official . live .
8. Web site: 21 December 2022 . Rinesh Sharma Is The Youngest Elected MP . 22 January 2023 . fijisun.com.fj . en-US . 22 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222020206/https://fijisun.com.fj/2022/12/21/rinesh-sharma-is-the-youngest-elected-mp/ . live .
9. Web site: 20 December 2022 . Entrepreneur brings skillset to Parliament . 22 January 2023 . FijiLive . en-US . 22 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222052049/https://fijilive.com/business/2022/12/20/entrepreneur-brings-skillset-to-parliament/6736/ . live .