Forum Island Countries Receive Business Toolkits Training
PRESS STATEMENT (105/07)
22nd August 2007
FORUM ISLAND COUNTRIES RECEIVE BUSINESS TOOLKITS TRAINING
In spite of numerous constraints, there is a "displayed hunger" to improve knowledge and acquire both business and technical skills to develop better and more competitive businesses in the Forum Island Countries.
This was among findings in a Report on Business Toolkits Training Workshops held in five Forum Island Countries that included Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tonga and Samoa between March and June of this year. Training is being planned for PNG and the Cook Islands.
The programme is coordinated by the Private Sector Development Unit at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in conjunction with the University of the South Pacific Graduate School of Business and is a result of their collaboration in the Small Business Development Conference that was held in Suva, Fiji in November 2006.
The purpose of the workshops is to provide business advisory organisations in the FICs with the capacity to use diagnostic tools that would help them develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their respective countries.
A broader purpose is the development of a data base of the FICs that profiles business capability and identifies the areas where their weaknesses and strengths lie. This data base would be very useful to Governments and donor agencies so that they can accurately allocate resources to the areas that need them most.
Understanding the fundamentals of a successful business and appreciation of the resources, processes and culture to help reduce risk and ensure growth, were highlighted in the training.
Some of the constraints that were identified in the report include the lack of management skills, ‘business unfriendly’ political and cultural environment, lack of sales and marketing capability, undercapitalization, and businesses not utilizing any form of personnel review system. All these place significant burdens on the business communities.
Human resource issues were identified as a constraint where effort at training and investment in people were being thwarted in most cases because capable people tended to immigrate to countries that will pay higher salaries.
Businesses need to adopt a market rather than product oriented approach to doing business and there was little understanding of the internet as a vital marketing technology.
A clear message that came from the participants was that Governments need to "think business" when creating tax, legal and other policies and to be empathetic with the needs for business success.
A follow up SME Business Conference will be planned to review the progress that has been made in the countries that have undertaken the training.
(Ends)
For more information, contact Ms Alise Stunnenberg, the Forum’s Private Sector Development Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email: alises@forumsec.org.fj
22nd August 2007
FORUM ISLAND COUNTRIES RECEIVE BUSINESS TOOLKITS TRAINING
In spite of numerous constraints, there is a "displayed hunger" to improve knowledge and acquire both business and technical skills to develop better and more competitive businesses in the Forum Island Countries.
This was among findings in a Report on Business Toolkits Training Workshops held in five Forum Island Countries that included Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tonga and Samoa between March and June of this year. Training is being planned for PNG and the Cook Islands.
The programme is coordinated by the Private Sector Development Unit at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in conjunction with the University of the South Pacific Graduate School of Business and is a result of their collaboration in the Small Business Development Conference that was held in Suva, Fiji in November 2006.
The purpose of the workshops is to provide business advisory organisations in the FICs with the capacity to use diagnostic tools that would help them develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their respective countries.
A broader purpose is the development of a data base of the FICs that profiles business capability and identifies the areas where their weaknesses and strengths lie. This data base would be very useful to Governments and donor agencies so that they can accurately allocate resources to the areas that need them most.
Understanding the fundamentals of a successful business and appreciation of the resources, processes and culture to help reduce risk and ensure growth, were highlighted in the training.
Some of the constraints that were identified in the report include the lack of management skills, ‘business unfriendly’ political and cultural environment, lack of sales and marketing capability, undercapitalization, and businesses not utilizing any form of personnel review system. All these place significant burdens on the business communities.
Human resource issues were identified as a constraint where effort at training and investment in people were being thwarted in most cases because capable people tended to immigrate to countries that will pay higher salaries.
Businesses need to adopt a market rather than product oriented approach to doing business and there was little understanding of the internet as a vital marketing technology.
A clear message that came from the participants was that Governments need to "think business" when creating tax, legal and other policies and to be empathetic with the needs for business success.
A follow up SME Business Conference will be planned to review the progress that has been made in the countries that have undertaken the training.
(Ends)
For more information, contact Ms Alise Stunnenberg, the Forum’s Private Sector Development Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email: alises@forumsec.org.fj
