Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu entrepreneurs get ready for e-commerce

Local businesses in  Niue, Tonga, and Vanuatu have gained new skills to enhance their online presence, reach new domestic and international markets and contribute to increase trade flows in the Blue Pacific continent.

The workshop, held simultaneously in the three countries on 6 and 7 November (5 and 6 November in Niue), provided essential skills to entrepreneurs to engage in the digital economy and marked the launch of eight new PIF E-commerce Business Toolkits offering practical tools for local businesses. These toolkits not only served as a foundation for the training but also provided valuable insights into how local businesses can better engage with digital tools and expand their reach. They were specifically tailored to the needs of various industries across the three nations: Niue focused its toolkits on Digital Creative and Tourism sectors, Tonga addressed the Kava, Food and Tourism, while Vanuatu updated its existing toolkits on Business Services, Kava and Tourism.

More than 70 entrepreneurs from the three nations took part in practical, hands-on PIF e-commerce training sessions aimed at equipping them with the tools and knowledge to engage and thrive in the digital economy. These workshops, based on the PIF E-commerce Business Toolkits resources and methodology, fostered collaboration and dialogue through interactive discussions with e-commerce experts and fellow entrepreneurs, providing participants with an opportunity to discuss common challenges and exchange best practices.

PIF Director of Programmes and Initiatives, Zarak Khan, said, “The workshops were more than just training sessions; they represent a crucial step toward building a resilient, competitive digital economy across the Pacific. By equipping local businesses with the skills to succeed online, these initiatives are empowering entrepreneurs to share their unique products and stories with the world, while also contributing to the region’s economic development – all aligned to our 2050 Strategy”.

Testimonies from our stakeholders highlighted the positive reception of the workshops:

• Lynette Tamata, owner of Deve-leen Online Digital Hub in Vanuatu:“I’m really pleased with the knowledge we gained! We covered essential topics like web development and creating QR codes for our businesses. It was incredibly valuable to learn from both global best practices and real-life case studies from Vanuatu. I only wish the course had been longer so we could have delved even further!”
• Jasmine Lee Vaha from LeVIART business in Niue:“I believe that e-commerce will not only encourage innovative entrepreneurs to invest their time into their businesses, but it will also be a way to circumvent one of the biggest obstacles in Niue’s Private sector which is the lack of physical spaces.”
• Sio Malani Wolfgramme, owner of Livestream in Tonga:“The Workshop was super helpful to meet other business owners that are entering the E-commerce space and talk about the solutions and challenges of doing online business in Tonga.”

For ongoing learning, participants were introduced to country-specific e-commerce toolkits and the eCove Community. The toolkits provide practical guidance on transitioning to online markets, while the eCove Community serves as a peer-to-peer platform for continued collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Pacific businesses and experts on e-commerce, fostering long-term e-commerce growth in the region.

These PIF E-commerce training workshops are part of the PIF E-Biz Plus program and are designed to enhance the digital capabilities of Pacific businesses, helping them boost sales, expand their market reach, and compete globally. Delivered by PIF and supported by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, the workshops and toolkits also benefitted from professional support provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat, all within the framework of the Pacific E-commerce Initiative and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.