The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide US$13 million in support of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in five Pacific countries for the next five years. The five-year support will help government-owned banks in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu to increase the number and volume of loans to MSMEs. It will also […]
Women-led businesses in Niue shared their experiences on ethics and compliance at the 2022 Women Entrepreneurs Anti-Corruption Workshop. The workshop, led by the Niue Chamber of Commerce in partnership with UN agencies, offered practical guidance on defining corruption in Niue, what laws and institutions are used to prevent and fight corruption, and who entrepreneurs can […]
Five women farmers in Morobe, Papua New Guinea have received new tractors through an Agriculture Value Chain Finance (AVCF) pilot product, with 10 additional machines scheduled for delivery next week. The pilot product, developed by Women’s Micro Bank Limited, NKW Fresh, and the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, provides a solution to finance NKW Fresh’s […]
While we know that micro, small, and medium businesses (MSMEs) are at the heart of the Pacific economy, many lenders consider them too risky for loans. They are seen as lacking collateral, having poor financial records, and being overly labour-intensive to monitor. Without access to finance, these businesses cannot grow. The Pacific Private Sector Development […]
The National newspaper/Pacnews (Buka) Francesca Semoso is making it her business to empower women and youth on Bougainville to build their business knowledge and skills using simple innovative ideas and the resources in their communities. Semoso is a firm believer that information is power. A former broadcaster and politician, Semoso has also worked with the […]
By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti When I was younger, my friends and I used to say ‘Qaqi Mai’ when we were ‘choking’ each other for bus fare money, a teasing way to say, ‘walk home’! But aspiring businessman Eliki Dakuitoga is giving the expression a much deeper meaning. Dakuitoga is the brains behind Qaqi Mai, a company […]
Maua, the popular e-commerce platform widely used in Samoa since 2018 and supporting post-covid economic recovery in the country, was officially launched in Vanuatu yesterday. Available both in mobile application and website form, the platform offers businesses and customers with a digital marketplace to seamlessly exchange goods and services. In Samoa, the Maua founders, through […]
Pacific exporters recently gathered to speak on the realities, opportunities, and challenges of trading in the region. The event was hosted by Griffith Asia Institute and Pacific Trade Invest Australia, with expert panelists being posed the question, ‘What is the future and power of trading with the Pacific?’ Expert panelists included Fipe Preuss, Samoan co-founder […]
As founder and creative director, Jessica Cassell’s ambition for Papua New Guinea’s Bilum & Bilas is for the venture to be well-known internationally as “a brand that has best practice around in working with artisans and working with cultural creative industries.” The brand, which sells bilums, jewellery and a small homewares range internationally, aims to […]
COVID-19 has been a stark reminder of how our economic, social and environmental systems are closely intertwined and dependent on each other. The pandemic has deeply affected the economies of many Pacific nations. How the region recovers will be driven by the investment decisions we make now and the capital we reallocate towards sustainable industries […]
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