Digital Transformation in the Pacific – Pacific ICT Days 2019
Digital transformation is the latest buzz word for business in the Pacific. This week we hear from our in-country partners Savvy Vanuatu, who attended the 2019 Pacific ICT (Information Communication Technology) Days, held at the National Convention Centre in Vanuatu.
Business Link Pacific’s (BLP) Vanuatu business advisory network members AJC and Pacific Digital Transformation Consulting are leading the Pacific digital revolution in Vanuatu by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to bridge the digital divide. In recognition, these businesses have just won significant Pacific ICT Awards.
The recent Pacific ICT Days two-day conference held in Vanuatu, coincided with and celebrated the 50th World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) on 17 May 2019.
The purpose of the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise global “awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide”.
Pacific ICT Days was an opportunity for the Pacific’s ICT sector, including public administrators, private sector companies, entrepreneurs and not-for profits to come together and explore strategic issues around the evolving role of ICTs in the Pacific region over the next decade.
Whilst the theme of this year’s WTISD was around bridging the standardization gap of ICT’s, at the Pacific ICT Days government leaders and industry also looked at the role of ICTs in reducing wealth inequality by linking people through good governance and improved business practices.
Vanuatu’s Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) Acting Regulator John Obed Alilee awards AJC’s Managing Partner Martin St-Hilaire “Best Digital Leader” Pacific ICT Award.
Leading the way in Vanuatu are two of Business Link Pacific’s partners; Business Advisory Service Providers AJC and Pacific Digital Transformation Consulting. They both won significant Pacific ICT Awards in recognition of their contributions to the industry.
AJC Chartered Professional Accountants & Business Advisors won the “Best Digital Leader” Pacific ICT Award. At the vanguard of the financial technological revolution in Vanuatu, AJC are promoting the benefits for SMEs that cloud-based accounting software delivers. AJC offer affordable service for the setup, migration and training for cloud-based business solutions such as Xero, which is at the moment subsidised by BLP.
“AJC’s Xero advisors are all fully certified and passionate about how Xero can help transform SMEs,” says Damien Mullins, AJC’s Accounting and Audit Senior Manager.
“Xero gives you the opportunity to see the health of your finances at a glance and identify any trends and opportunities which can be crucial to help your business expand. It’s easy to get lost in the accounting jargon and vast ledger screens but Xero is the perfect balance of simplicity, power and elegance.”
Through the BLP programme, small and medium sized businesses in Vanuatu have been connected with AJC to receive quality business advice and support, in particular guidance around accounting processes. This is made possible by key BLP services like the Business Health Check and the BLP Subsidy, opportunities for growing businesses to gain access to much needed business support that is affordable.
Australian High Commission’s Governance for Growth Program Director, Clinton Pobke awards Pacific Digital Transformation Consulting’s Consulting Director Marc Gerard with “Best ICT Entrepreneurship” Pacific ICT Award.
Also part of BLP’s growing business advisory network, Pacific Digital Transformation Consultants, won the “Best ICT Entrepreneurship” Pacific ICT Award for their work developing Kava World, a new international e-Kava network.
Kava World attracted a lot of interest at the Pacific ICT Days Conference because of its ICT innovation (and since kava is Vanuatu’s national drink!).
The newly launched digital platform is a mix of Trip Advisor, LinkedIn and Facebook that is completely dedicated to kava. This “disruptive” IT solution is a game-changer for kava marketing and distribution, digitally connecting growers, sellers and consumers globally.
Director of PDT Consulting, Marc Gerard (centre) with colleagues Jimmy and Irene.
Through the BLP Subsidy Kava Wholesalers, South Sea Commodities were connected with Pacific Digital Transformation Consulting to help develop Kava World’s business plan.
“We chose to work digitally in the Vanuatu kava sector because there are so many people involved either drinking kava or working in the industry as growers, producers, sellers, mammas in the nakamal (kava bars) and exporters,” says Marc Gérard, Director of PDT Consulting.
“Any kava nakamal can join up for free and can push its communication to its followers, and in Vanuatu use free data thanks to a partnership with TVL.”
“There a very few kava exporters that have platforms to market their products whether its kava powder, merchandising or containers of dried kava. It almost doesn’t exist so we want to provide a massive ICT solution to many people in Vanuatu.”
Business Link Pacific extends a warm congratulations to all Pacific ICT Award winners!
For more information and to see if your business is eligible for a BLP Subsidy or to get a free BLP Business Health Check, contact Yvonne Leo Taiki at the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) via [email protected] or call direct on 779 0124 or via the VCCI on 27543.