Business Link Pacific Podcast

In this episode, we take a look back at some of the most significant events that have knocked Tongan businesses, how they are coping and what kind of services businesses are looking for to improve economic conditions in Tonga.

Like many countries, Samoa has struggled significantly with the pandemic and lockdowns, but with the border opening up to international guests, we see many SMEs and local tourism operators gearing up for an influx of overseas visitors. Today we will talk to John Lemoa, BLP's in-country partner and the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and reflect on some of the areas in which businesses have been struggling over the last couple of years, and how business advisory services have helped.

In episode two of season six, we’re speaking with Rebecca Tavioni, CEO of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, Kiesha Dais, BLP’s Business Service Manager in the Cook Islands and Chantel Napa, who is a BLP subsidy and Adaptation Grant recipient.  These three businesswomen discuss the impact of business advisory services in the Cook Islands, the current service offerings for SMEs, what demand there is for specific services and the role Business Link Pacific and its In-Country partners play in supporting this upcoming market.   It's exciting to be able to talk through both the successes and opportunities for development in the #CookIslands whilst looking back at our time working in partnership with the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce.  Tune in below to hear more about the Cook Island #SME success stories, the impact of business advisory services in the region and how the BLP network is working with SMEs to improve their businesses through adaptation planning subsidies and grants.

In this episode, we focus on the work of our in-country partners in Fiji. Since 2018, our partnership has contributed to the development of the local market for business advisory services and supported thousands of Fijian businesses. Here are some highlights of the partnership:  * Facilitated access to local business advisory services worth 2.35M NZD, 50% directly invested by the private sector. Services have supported nearly 500 Fijian businesses to improve their operations and resilience and have contributed to creating more than 400 new jobs, 50% occupied by women.  * Enabled 250 business adaptation grants worth 1.5M NZD that have helped SMEs in Fiji adapt to the new post-COVID environment, safeguard jobs and create new products and services.   * Supported over 1,000 businesses through face-to-face business diagnostics, online health checks and continuity planning to improve their planning and identify gaps and opportunities.  In this episode, we talk with Ramesh Chan, former BLP's Business Service Manager in Fiji, about the variety of services offered locally by BLP's business advisors and the importance of their professional services for the future recovery of the SME sector.  Ramesh worked with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation during the first years of BLP in the country and currently leads the work of Business Assistance Fiji (BAF), BLP's new in-country partner.   BAF was brought together by the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), Fiji Institute of Accountants (FIA) and Women in Business (WIB) to address the needs of the private sector after the pandemic.  We also talked to Marina Cherry, owner of Sweet Endings in Fiji and adaptation grant recipient. Marina talks about the struggles of running a business and the importance of innovation and adaptation.  Finally, we consider the many strengths and opportunities of the market of business advisory services in Fiji and its role in supporting a brighter economic future for the region.

In this episode, we speak to Veilawa Rereiwasaliwa, General Manager Fiji and Acting Head of Pacific Digital Transformation at Tower Insurance about business innovation and protection during times of crisis. Tower is one of our most recent partners in the Pacific and it’s great to hear their advice for SMEs on how they can access insurance services to help protect their businesses during a crisis.