It boasts an abundance of marine life in its blue waters; and in March 2020, Niue became the world’s first dark sky country – where the island maintains standards of light development and keeps light pollution limited. This idyllic tropical island relies on its natural assets for tourism – one of three priority economic sectors (fisheries…
Category: Pacific
Problem solvers find solutions for Pacific businesses
Finding affordable solutions to freight and logistics issues are EIF International’s speciality. Speaking to 18 participants at the Digital Path to Market Workshop for Papua New Guinea in July, Business Development and Relationship Manager at EIF Gautam Kishor says the New Zealand owned business is active in the Pacific region. “We are trying to make…
Emerging Pacific Island leaders put theory into practice
Each year Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) New Zealand offers three exceptional students the chance to gain real world experience by participating in a three-month internship. Acting Trade Commissioner Glynis Miller says the internship offers real-life on-the-job training in the three areas covered by PTI NZ: communications, investment, and trade. “There’s no better way to build…
Pandemic effects felt Pacific-wide
As New Zealand settles into alert level one, and what is the “new normal” for society post Covid-19 lockdown, the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt around the globe including the Pacific region. Covid-19 is causing havoc on economies the world-over, more so for Pacific island economies. Key insights of the second Pacific…
PNG businesses hopeful they can survive pandemic
Despite a bleak outlook in Papua New Guinea presently, there is some optimism businesses will bounce back and overcome the challenges and impacts from Covid-19. These are the views of participants in the recent Pacific Trade Invest PNG-focused Pacific Business Monitor Survey (two) available HERE, which are also shared by Rio Fiocco. Based in Port…
Tahitian ingredients key to improving the health of the Pacific
For close to three decades, Tahiti-based cosmetic factory Laboratoire de Cosmétologie du Pacifique Sud (LCPS) has utilised the luxurious vegetal extracts available on the French Polynesian paradise in their range of products. Vegetal extracts such as Monoi de Tahiti, Tamanu oil and its derivatives, provide moisturising and water retention properties, identical to the functions of the…
Boutique business dedicated to strategy and innovation
Freshfish Studio is all about purpose, and there has never been any doubt about what Founder and Director Raul Sarrot wants to achieve with his boutique design business. A Designer, Strategist and Coach specialising in helping transform organisations and brands to align and connect with their internal and external audiences, Raul’s vision of owning a…
Collectively battling adversity in Vanuatu
(Picture caption: Tanna Coffee, Vanuatu Craft and South Pacific Botanicals have joined forces to begin production of a basic range of World Health Organization (WHO) recommended hand-wash sanitisers.) The global crisis due to COVID-19 has a significant impact on small countries like Vanuatu. With approximately 40 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) coming from the…
COVID-19 forces a change in business as usual
(Picture caption: Zoom online meetings are becoming the norm worldwide.) As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt business as usual, the Tokyo-based Pacific Islands Centre (PIC) has joined the rest of the world in moving their meetings online. On April 28, PIC held a meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in Japan…
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand responds to COVID-19
(Picture caption: Interfacing with New Zealand-based distribution channels is proving useful. It has helped PTI NZ understand the appetite of New Zealand distributors of fresh and processed goods from the PICs to the types of changes that are likely to occur in the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic.) As we enter the second week of being…
Lending a helping hand in the Pacific
(Picture caption: L-R Businessmen Tate Hui and John Hong were quick to lend a hand to Pacific people in need.) In recent months, the Pacific region has been battered by not only the tsunami effect of COVID-19 but also Tropical Cyclone Harold, which hit Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga with force. Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) New…
The impact of COVID-19 on trade and exports from Pacific Island Countries to New Zealand
(Picture caption: Many organisations have implemented innovative production alternatives or found other commercial outlets through online selling and export to adapt to the COVID-19 situation, allowing them to operate almost as usual.) Around the Pacific, nations are endeavouring to respond to the outbreak of the COVID-19 or at best are committed to keeping the…
Pacific Periscope 