Thirty women entrepreneurs from six Pacific Island nations were part of the three-day, Pacific Women in Export Workshop which was tailored for women founders of private companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are either exporting or seeking to expand into international markets, the United Kingdom in particular.

Organised by the International Trade Centre’s United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme (UKTP), the workshop ran from Monday, September 30 to Wednesday, October 2 with the support from Investment Fiji and the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council of Fiji.

The primary aim of the workshop was to empower women business-owners in the Pacific region to elevate their export strategies and compete in advanced and highly competitive global markets.

“With funding from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, UKTP has been supporting Pacific Island businesses to grow and export since 2019,” said UKTP Programme Manager at the International Trade Centre (the joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organization), Jarmila Sarda.

“In addition to the Pacific Women in Export Workshop, UKTP is implementing various trade promotion and capacity building activities across the Pacific at different stages of the value chain,” she added.

Workshop participants benefited from high-level mentorship, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and business collaboration sessions, all designed to help them seize prominent trade opportunities on the international stage

Investment Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Chetty said the organisation is committed to supporting the Pacific Women in Export Workshop, which represents a significant step forward for women entrepreneurs across the Pacific Islands.

“Through this workshop participants were empowered, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, by providing essential tools and mentorship to navigate international trade,” he added.

He also highlighted Investment Fiji’s commitment to fostering an environment where MSMEs can thrive.

“We believe that by investing in the leadership capabilities of women, we can enhance our region's export potential and drive sustainable economic growth.”

“This workshop has not only facilitated valuable peer-to-peer learning but also created vital business collaborations that would eventually open doors to high-profile trade opportunities," said Chetty.