Pacific Islands Business News from Business Link Pacific

Case study · Samoa

SAMOA: BLP Support for Creatives

Fine Mat Creative owner Liz Ah-Hi has been a Business Link Pacific business service provider since 2019 and she encourages small business owners to take advantage of the services available to them.

21 November 2023

Case study · Papua New Guinea

PNG: There is power in community - The story of Unen Choit Cooperative and where your coffee comes from.

With a territory spanning two provinces, three local governments and seven districts, the 1,750 farmers who make up the Unen Choit Cooperative Society have been growing the coffee, you may be enjoying right now, for over 15 years.

8 November 2023

Sweet Endings selling Point in Fiji with owner and team members

Case study · Fiji

FIJI: It’s never too late to start your sweet dreams

BLP grant recipient Marina Fesaitu was young when she learned the art of baking from her mother. Today, at the age of 57, she runs a bakery at Joes Farm in Suva, and two cake shops also in Suva named Sweet Endings Fiji which specialize in baking a variety of cakes and pastries for all…

31 October 2023

RSIPF EOD Officer – UXO Disposal, Solomon Islands

Case study · Solomon Islands

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Clearing the shadows of war – SIEOTEC and a BLP Grant make the Solomon Islands safer.

Solomon Islands is renowned for hosting one of the most ferocious battles in history during World War II. The Battle for Guadalcanal stands as a monumental chapter in the nation's history.

18 October 2023

The Hideaway Café – Floating Café, Tonga

Case study · Tonga

TONGA: Change is the only constant for Hideaway Café

Like many business owners in Tonga and across the Pacific, Charlett and Barry Millen are adaptation experts, rising to any challenge and just making it work. For example, the first problem they faced in Tonga was how will we make peperoni sausage with no pork? No worries. They now make a delicious spicy chicken sausage…

29 September 2023

Treasure House Savaii – Beachfront, Samoa

Case study · Samoa

SAMOA: Spinning gold from, well, gold

After ten years in business, facing one challenge after another, Treasure House in rural Savaii is slowly becoming a treasure for entrepreneur and owner Taunese Purvis. Local customers visit Treasure House for watch repairs and jewellery, much of which is locally made, including the popular Polynesian design wedding rings.

20 September 2023

Businesslink Pacific business advisory services photo collage

News

Can Business Advisory Services enhance your business?

Ask any business owner who has received business advice and you will get the same response: The business service really helped my business to move forward and grow. They will most likely also tell you how much they learned in the process.

24 July 2023

Vanuatu BLP network MSME Day 2023 collage

News · Vanuatu

VANUATU: MSME Day - Showcasing the BLP Network

During MSME Day, the United Nations celebrates the contribution of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to the world’s economy. These businesses account for a massive 90% of businesses, up to 70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. MSME Day is a UN initiative that responds to a need for increasing awareness about MSME…

27 June 2023

Women-led Business Workshop – BAF and CEFI, Fiji

News · Fiji

Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Women-led Businesses in the Pacific: A Collaborative Effort by BLP’s partners BAF and CEFI

While women-led businesses in the Pacific region are critical to economic growth and development, they face unique challenges, including limited access to finance, business training, and networking opportunities. Despite these challenges, women-led businesses have shown remarkable resilience and significantly contributed to their communities and the broader economy.

3 May 2023

Mama Annie’s photo of Mama Annie's Treats - Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce

Case study · Cook Islands

COOK ISLANDS: Mama Annie’s Treats by the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce

The Covid-19 pandemic brought many challenges to the Cook Islands, but also many opportunities. Some challenges meant cultural aspects of our lives were forced to adapt, while other challenges opened doors for businesses as they responded to the new economic environment with new products, methods or markets. Denied the usual steady flow of visitors into…

28 April 2023

Podcast

Podcast · Tonga

Season 6, episode 4: The impacts of business advisory service in Tonga

A conversation with BLP Business Service Manager Sonia Lea and business owner Mr Simana Kami on impacts Tongan businesses are seeing post-COVID lockdowns, what kind of services are needed and how business advisory services have helped SME owners in Tonga.

21 December 2022

Baeto Enterprises workers at timber workshop, Solomon Islands

Case study · Solomon Islands

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Baeto Enterprises grows with help from a BLP Adaptation Grant

Located in Taro Town, Choiseul Province – some two hours flight from Honiara – is William Sualau, entrepreneur and owner of Baeto Enterprises. William supplies small retail stores in Taro Town and the surrounding rural communities with general household goods, manufactured food items, fuel and electrical items brought in by ship from Honiara.

27 October 2022