Nabilah S
Local businesses in Niue, Tonga, and Vanuatu have acquired new skills to boost their online presence, connect with both domestic and international markets, and contribute to increasing trade flows across the Blue Pacific continent.
A workshop, held simultaneously in these three countries on 6 and 7 November (5 and 6 November in Niue), equipped entrepreneurs with essential knowledge to thrive in the digital economy. This event also marked the introduction of eight new PIF E-commerce Business Toolkits, offering practical tools for local businesses. These toolkits provided a strong foundation for the training sessions and delivered valuable guidance on how businesses can effectively leverage digital tools to expand their reach.
The toolkits were carefully designed to address the specific needs of various industries in each country. In Niue, the focus was on the Digital Creative and Tourism sectors. Tonga tailored its toolkits to the Kava, Food, and Tourism industries, while Vanuatu updated its existing toolkits to support Business Services, Kava, and Tourism.
Over 70 entrepreneurs from three nations participated in immersive, hands-on PIF e-commerce training sessions designed to equip them with essential tools and knowledge to excel in the digital economy. These workshops, grounded in the PIF E-commerce Business Toolkits resources and methodology, fostered collaboration and dialogue through interactive discussions with e-commerce experts and fellow entrepreneurs. Participants were provided a platform to address shared challenges and exchange valuable best practices.
Zarak Khan, the PIF Director of Programmes and Initiatives, commented, “These workshops were more than just training; they signify a critical step toward establishing a resilient, competitive digital economy across the Pacific. By empowering local businesses with the skills needed to thrive online, these initiatives enable entrepreneurs to showcase their unique products and stories to a global audience, contributing to the region’s economic growth—fully aligned with our 2050 Strategy.”
Testimonies from our stakeholders showcased the overwhelmingly positive reception of the workshops:
Lynette Tamata, owner of Deve-leen Online Digital Hub in Vanuatu, shared her thoughts:
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the knowledge we gained! We explored essential topics such as web development and creating QR codes for our businesses. The opportunity to learn from global best practices as well as real-life case studies from Vanuatu was incredibly valuable. My only wish is that the course had been longer so we could have gone even deeper into these topics!”
Jasmine Lee Vaha from LeVIART business in Niue expressed her perspective:
“I truly believe that e-commerce will not only inspire innovative entrepreneurs to dedicate more time to their businesses, but it will also provide a way to overcome one of the greatest challenges facing Niue’s private sector—the lack of physical spaces.”
Sio Malani Wolfgramme, owner of Livestream in Tonga, highlighted the benefits of networking:
“The workshop was incredibly helpful, as it allowed me to connect with other business owners entering the e-commerce space. It was so valuable to discuss the solutions and challenges of running an online business in Tonga.”
For continued learning, participants were introduced to country-specific e-commerce toolkits and the eCove Community. These toolkits offer practical guidance on transitioning to online markets, while the eCove Community acts as a peer-to-peer platform, enabling ongoing collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Pacific businesses and e-commerce experts. Together, they are fostering long-term e-commerce growth throughout the region.
The PIF E-commerce training workshops form part of the PIF E-Biz Plus program, which aims to strengthen the digital capabilities of Pacific businesses. These efforts help businesses increase sales, expand their market reach, and compete on a global scale. Delivered by PIF with support from the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, the workshops and toolkits also benefited from professional assistance provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat. All of these initiatives are aligned with the Pacific E-commerce Initiative and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
