Pacific businesses

This is according to an article published in the IPA ‘Opportunity Newsletter’ from the 6^th edition.

PTI conducted an export survey and found out that freight costs are one of the top three barriers to export faced by businesses in the Pacific. According to PTI- Australia, the initiative to support pacific exporters came in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The freight assistance package aims to grow the demand for pacific goods and services in international markets and support the development of e-commerce in the Blue Pacific.

The results have been published in the fourth  PTI Pacific Business Monitor Report.  The PTI Pacific Business Monitor is a regular survey that tracks the sentiment of businesses from across the Pacific region.

Fiji has been particularly hard hit by the crisis (93% reported a significant decline in sales/revenue).

In September they will launch the Tonga Business Network with a goal to establish other Pacific business networks as well.

Their work follows an economic strategy put in place by the New Zealand government to grow Pacific businesses.

The Pacific economic strategy 6 year plan launched in 2015 aims to see more sustainable Pacific-owned businesses in the country and increase their access to mentors and business networks.

SBN's Co-founder Laura Keil-Hall said the goal is to create a wider Pacific Business Network within New Zealand.

The aim is to help Pacific exporters promote their products to the New Zealand market.

Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand Trade Development Manager, Joe Fuavao, said around 40 companies from eleven Pacific countries will be taking part.

Mr Fuavao said the main object for the companies at the festival is to test their products to New Zealand consumers and gauge an immediate response.

Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) NZ is working in association with Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), an organisation of the Auckland Council, to create the Pacific Hub that will host exporting companies from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.

Though PTI has hosted Pacific companies at Pasifika since 2016, stalls of PTI-hosted companies tended to be scattered across the ‘villages’ throughout the sprawling Western Springs property.

The idea amongst others was raised at the Trade 2018 GC2018 briefing held by representatives from the Office of the Commonwealth Games, Queensland Government, Lisa Ward and Yasmahne Hanel for invited guests at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland last week.

PTI NZ hosted nine Pacific Island companies from five countries in a special Pacific-themed stand at the Auckland Food Show called the ‘Pacific Hub’, which was visited by thousands of consumers, retailers and distributors throughout the four-day event, sampling, negotiating and ordering product.

Growing the export potential for Pacific businesses was a key issue for the Private Sector Dialogue at last week's leaders forum in Apia.

Liz’s business Aro Enterprises Ltd (she trades under Tifui Nursery) specialises in growing quality orchid and anthurium cutflowers, and the importing and sale of other unique ornamental plant varieties.

A small team of seven, including Liz and her husband Lori (pictured), grow the beautiful blooms in four greenhouses located on five acres of land, and the plants and flowers are then sold at the gate – mainly to florists, wedding planners and keen gardeners.