Business Link Pacific officially launches Diagnostic & Referral Tool in Fiji
Last week Business Link Pacific (BLP) invited members of the Fiji business community and BLP’s in-country partners to participate in its biannual Advisory Panel Meeting, hosted at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) in Fiji.
Chaired by Nesbitt Hazelman, CEO of the FCEF and Paul Wendland, BLP Deputy Activity Director, the meeting was a mix of feedback and shared tactical experiences so that Business Advisory Service Providers (BASPs) can continue to provide an invaluable service to supporting SME business growth in Fiji.
Mr. Wendland began by sharing an update of the work undertaken by BLP in Fiji over the past 18 months, which has resulted in collaborations with over 10 BASPs and SMEs; the beginnings of a robust business network. Some of the highlights included a focus on improving the quality of business advisory services locally available, increasing BASP offer and demand, mentoring needs of BASPs and improving market linkages between business advisory services and SMEs
Panel attendees were introduced to BLP’s new Business Services Manager, Kitione Nadaro, based at the FCEF, who will be actively promoting the BLP programme and ultimately helping to implement a strong BLP presence locally. He will also assist with facilitation and recruitment of new and further ranging business advisory service providers for the BLP network.
In addition, Mr. Wendland officially launched BLP’s Diagnostic & Referral Tool specifically designed to assess small businesses by diagnosing strengths and weaknesses and areas for improvement, the first step in identifying the type of support BLP can provide.
Mr. Nadaro will play a crucial role in Fiji by carrying out the Diagnostic & Referral process and working to connect small businesses with relevant service providers.
“I think it’s excellent. It’s new for Fiji. You can easily take part in the advice that comes through this particular service in the comfort of your homes and in your office at any time. That’s why it’s unique and will be taken up by a lot of businesses in Fiji,” said Nesbitt Hazelman, CEO of FCEF.
It was also revealed that individual, hands-on meetings with BLP Xero advisors and local service providers is being planned for April. This follows on from last year’s successful Xero Accounting workshop attended by 80 accountants. These one-on-one sessions will welcome back Emma Crawford-Falekaono and Marney Price, and also joining this team will be Laura Mason. Their combined expertise will further build upon the foundation of introducing advanced cloud-based accounting to Fijian accountants.
The Panel Meeting concluded with BLP ever more determined to continuously grow the programme in Fiji. With the generous and consistent support of FCEF, the NZ High Commission in Fiji and the business community in the country, BLP looks forward to welcoming more quality service providers and businesses into its network.
For more information about the BLP Diagnostic & Referral Tool and to see if your business is eligible for the BLP programme contact:
Kitione Nadaro via [email protected], Fiji Business Service Manager for Business Link Pacific.
Yvonne Leo Taiki via [email protected], Vanuatu Business Service Manager for Business Link Pacific
John Lemoa via [email protected], Samoa Business Service Manager for Business Link Pacific
Business Link Pacific is a joint New Zealand Aid Programme/AECOM development initiative.