Pacific Islands Business News from Business Link Pacific

Savaai Food & Produce workers weighing products, Samoa

Case study · Samoa

SAMOA: The places you can go with a business plan

It seems obvious that a business exporting local Samoan food products to New Zealand would be successful. With almost as many Samoan’s living in New Zealand as live in Samoa, there is a ready-made market hungry for the tastes of home. Not to mention the many other Pacific peoples – and kiwis – who can’t…

13 December 2021

Case study · Samoa

SAMOA: Resilience is the key to Island Grill survival

Resilience is the key to Island Grill survival. Rosie Ripley Vaai, the joint owner of Island Grill Restaurant which first opened in 2017, exemplifies the resilience needed to get through tough times. Unable to secure funding to set up the business, Rosie and her husband cut back on expenses and made do; in the months…

10 December 2021

Case study · Cook Islands

COOK ISLANDS: Flying Turtle Cafe - Working smarter to give the customers what they want

It’s a tough, competitive world out there in Rarotonga’s hospitality sector, with every outlet cooking up a storm of delicious favourites for the tourism market-fresh seafood and loads of tropical fruit and vegetables – and burgers and chips to treat local tastes.

6 December 2021

Case study · Cook Islands

COOK ISLANDS: Business beyond the borders

A quick look at Bergman & Sons’ website shows the dedication this business has to the international market. With spectacular imagery truly showcasing their black pearl products, the goal of successfully entering the New Zealand online market seems within reach.

29 November 2021

Case study · Samoa

SAMOA: Putting your life jacket on to survive the storm – An interview with Hotel Millenia, Samoa

On a grey autumn day in gloomy Auckland, it’s hard at first glance to feel sorry for anyone living in a resort hotel on the tropical island of Samoa, but, on closer inspection, things are not what they seem from the dreamy images available online.

26 November 2021

Case study · Papua New Guinea

PNG: Empowering women through agriculture - a business born in lockdown!

Earlier this year, Business Link Pacific opened applications to Business Adaptation Grants across eight Pacific Islands. Adaptation grants are funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia.

22 November 2021

Case study · Cook Islands

COOK ISLANDS: Tamarind House Restaurant and Bar – Upskilling and adapting with Business Link Pacific

Manager by default, Pasha Carruthers’ positive and flexible can-do attitude will get Rarotongan icon Tamarind House through the pandemic. But it hasn’t been easy. Facing illness in the family, Pasha, daughter of chef-owners, was thrown into the driving seat, putting her career in climate change disaster management on hold.

17 November 2021

Case study · Papua New Guinea

PNG: RabNets IT establishes new revenue streams through BLP Adaptation Grant

August Apelis is the Founder and Director of RabNets, a business specialising in computers and network management/support services in Papua New Guinea.

15 November 2021

Case study · Papua New Guinea

PNG: Coffee makes the world go round – doesn’t it?

Who doesn’t love a good coffee? Mark Munnull, Managing Director of family-run business KOSEM Ltd hopes everyone does because that’s what he’s producing from the Jiwaka Province in Papua New Guinea. Continually networking with small local growers, Mark seeks excellence in the perfect cup for KOSEM’s growing international export market.

10 November 2021

Case study · Papua New Guinea

PNG: Adaptation Grant allows for investment in future technology

Earlier this year, Business Link Pacific opened up the second round of Adaptation Grants through the Finance Facility in order to enable small to medium-sized businesses throughout the Pacific to access capital for stabilisation, recovery and growth due to COVID-19’s impact on the regional economy.

8 November 2021

News

Tower Insurance and Business Link Pacific enter new partnership.

Tower Insurance and Business Link Pacific (BLP) have announced a new partnership focusing on lifting insurance awareness, understanding and penetration across the South Pacific region.

2 November 2021

News · Papua New Guinea

PNG: Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce - a partnership for growth and resilience

The vibrant local art on the wall of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce boardroom is a first hint of the passion CEO Stacey O’Nea has for the culture of PNG, and its largely SME economy. In an interview in August 2021, Stacey described the wide array of innovative business services on offer to SMEs…

11 October 2021