1st qtr

PASIFIKA BUSINESS WATCH A quarterly newsletter of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation

Volume 2 - Issue 1

ISSN 2305-5081

January - March 2013

PIPSO formalises relationship with SPC and PITIA will be beneficial for both organisations. As a result of this partnership, PIPSO will be able to access SPC’s technical expertise across many of the sectors in which SPC works to support capacity development for the region’s private sector initiatives at national and regional level.

It also enables SPC to work more closely with PIPSO and support its work for the region.

VISION

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

MISSION

To lead the facilitation of private-sector driven economic growth for the benefit of the region PIPSO Board Member Mr Epa Tuioti with SPC Director - General Mr Jimmie Rodgers

Highlights...

Subregional partnership for Small Island States Value Chain Sur vey PIPSO new Board member Pilot SME Development Programme Business Feature: Adi Chocolate NPSO News: Solomon Islands Samoa Tonga

In order to effectively achieve sustainable economic development for the Pacific region, PIPSO recognises that it must work with other regional based organisations who are also working toward similar goals.

In the first quarter of 2013, PIPSO has already signed two Memorandums of Understanding with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association.

SPC is an international organisation that works in public health, geoscience, agriculture, forestry, water resources, disaster management, fisheries, education (community, TVET, quality and standards for all school levels), statistics, transport, energy, ICT, media, human rights, gender, youth and culture in 22 Pacific countries while PITIA is a united voice for the Forum Island Countries’ domestic tuna fishing and associated industries and has a membership of 14 countries.

In regards to the MOU with SPC, this collaboration will centre work and research on countries’ needs and priorities. Those needs and priorities, expressed during relevant meeting of Pacific Ministers and Forum Leaders, will lead SPC and PIPSO. Research will be conducted on each organisation’s strengths, they will complete themselves with facilitation of information and people exchange. This collaborative approach focusing on needs and priorities will highlight gaps or new priorities for consideration.

Dr Jimmie Rodgers, SPC’s Director–General, stated that PIPSO has a very important role in supporting private sector development in the Pacific Islands region, and that this partnership

Mr Epa Tuioti, member of the Board of Directors for PIPSO, stated that the formalisation of this partnership signifies PIPSO’s important role in the region and the importance of public and private sector organisations working together at regional level. This partnership will see PIPSO collaborate more with SPC to improve the business environment and facilitate increased exports in key industries. He said that PIPSO looks forward to this new partnership.

Such MOUs will ensure that efforts are increased without overlapping on each others programmes.

Regarding the Memorandum of Cooperation with PITIA, PITIA will act as the PIPSO Working Group for Fisheries and will consult its members and regularly update PIPSO. The Fisheries Working Group is one of five subgroups created by PIPSO for the 5 major private sector industries in the Pacific Region. These groups consist of key stakeholders in each industry which is brought together by PIPSO to identify and resolve issues arising in the industry on a regional basis.

PITIA recognises that pulling the resources of the two organisations together will only serve to better represent and promote the interest of Pacific Fishing Industry as a whole and encourage sustainable economic development for the region.

The MOC was officiated by Mr Paula Taumoepeau, Chairman of PIPSO and Mr Charles Hufflet, Chairman of PITIA. Both regional organisations have also agreed to exchange information on trade and investment opportunities in the fisheries industry in the Pacific Islands and to identify suitable joint ventures/trade partners for the industries development.

Essentially both agreements will help to reduce overlap of work efforts and may bring about effect coordination of combined resources where applicable.

PIPSO will be entering into similar arrangements with other sector based regional organisations in the coming months.

Board appoints new member

Mr Howard Politini

The

Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Howard Politini as its new Board member.

His appointment comes after the resignation of Mr Mark Mathews from the Board late last year.

Mr Politini is the Acting President of the Fiji Employers Federation (FCEF) and a Board member of the Government Employment Relations Advisory Board, Director of New World Supermarkets Ltd, Trustee of Fiji Water Foundation, Fiji Gospel Churches Trust, Gospel Schools Council for Education and Chairman of Gospel School for the Deaf.

On his new appointment to PIPSO and his contribution to the Board, he conveyed that he believed he worked for one of the best organisations in the country Bank of the South Pacific and FCEF both of which have recently had to exist and develop in very challenging times.

“These first hand experiences thus equip me to contribute to PIPSO and the region with good institutional knowledge and engaging with key stakeholders like Governments. I look forward to the challenge with confidence,” Mr Politini’s nomination to the PIPSO Board was endorsed by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation by virtue of his appointment as the Acting President of FCEF. More detailed information on Mr Politini can be found on the PIPSO website.

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Seed capital donation for women living with disabilities

Pilot SME Export Development The Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation is still accepting applications for the piloted SME Export Development Programme funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented in collaboration with the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF).

Launched on 1st March 2013, the SME Export Development Programme provides direct financial assistance to businesses with export potential. The programme will assist businesses to improve their business capacity and competitiveness to enable them to penetrate export markets. The Porgamme focuses on supporting quality management and assurance and post accreditation implementation.

In just over a month, the pilot has received tremendous interest shown by the private sector toward getting their businesses accredited to international export market standards.

PIPSO Programme Officer Maake Komailevuka who has been liaising with Pacific businesses on the pilot says that a number of companies have already been identified with more to be confirmed by the end of May. “A team from PCF has been visiting businesses to evaluate their needs and quality systems and this will form the basis of a report which will indentify which companies this pilot programme will assist.

According to PIPSO’s CEO Mereia Volavola, the pilot initiative will help the Secretariat understand the needs of Pacific exporting businesses and how best to direct assistance to improve SME competitiveness.

She added, that this pilot project builds on work that PIPSO and PCF is doing in improving the opportunities for Pacific SMEs to export with its current training of trainers’ project on Improving Marketing and Quality Assurance Toolkits.

equality and democratic governance.

businesses.

Many SMEs in the PICs have excellent products but need support to in order to develop quality and standards, labeling, packaging and certification such as HACCP, ISO, Organic, and Environment.

UNDP is therefore supporting this initiative which involves PIPSO, national private sector organizations and other players to develop SMEs capacities and competitiveness in PICs.

She said that more needed to be done by those in the private sector in order to help other businesses flourish.

By supporting this initiative UNDP envisages a strong and vibrant SMEs in PICs which is not only export ready and competitive but also sustainable to meet the demands of the regional and international markets.

Ultimately, the programme aims to assist businesses in attaining or earning the license of a True Pacific Brand Standard.

The True Pacific Brand is a programme initiated by the New Zealand based Pacific Cooperation Foundation in 2011 to introduce outstanding Pacific Island origin products to the rest of the world.

Companies that are already part of the programme have had to meet a set of assessments to confirm that their products are high quality before they are allowed to use the True Pacific Trademark on their products.

PIPSO would like to also assist more companies to achieve a three-year license in support of a high quality Pacific trademark and encourage exports into target markets such as New Zealand, Australia, USA, Japan and China.

For further information on the SME Export Development Programme please contact Ma’ake Komailevuka.

UNDP recognizes that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depends on a sustainable economic growth driven by markets and private enterprises that create jobs, deliver goods and services, and generate tax revenues to finance essential social and economic infrastructure.

Therefore, the private sector plays an essential role in achieving broader UNDP goals in areas such as energy and environmental service delivery, crisis prevention, gender

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

This funding was been made possible through the contributions made by participants at the PIPSO Regional Conference for Women in Business that was held in November 2012 in Nadi.

The participants from the 14 Hand over ceremony at the PDF office in Suva Forum Island Countries were made “I challenge the private sector of the up of Government Officials, women PIPSO’s 14 Pacific Island Countries to entrepreneurs and Community assist those living with disabilities who leaders. want to start up businesses.”

At the Conference, PIPSO highlighted PIPSO CEO Mereia Volavola said these the challenges faced by disabled words as she handed over a cash donation women who were engaged in of $1,800.00 to Pacific Disability Forum business. This caught the attention as seed capital for disabled women in of the participants who eagerly the Pacific who wish to start up their own contributed to this worthy cause.

AusAID Pacific Private Sector Strategy Consultations In February, PIPSO was invited to attend Consultations on AusAIDs framework for the Pacific Private Sector Strategy.

PIPSO’s CEO Mereia Volavola represented the Secretariat at the consultation meeting held at the University of Adelaide on 8th February 2013. Other organisations invited included ADB, IFC, Pacific Islands Trade and Invest, PIPSO and the Small Business Development Center (Samoa).

Australian aid program’s broad approach is to develop the private sector of its partner countries.

The fundamental purpose of the strategy is to help people overcome poverty by promoting opportunities for all, sustainable economic development, effective governance and humanitarian and disaster response.

To achieve this strategy, Australia will work with governments of partner countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region, civil society organisations, multilateral agencies and the private sector. Specific programs will be determined on a country-by-country basis.

Ms Volavola provided interventions

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on gaps and needs for business in the Pacific. Some of the topics Ms Volavola highlighted was the cost of doing business in the Pacific, women’s access to land and capital, SME access to finance and soft loans, how political instability affects bilateral programmes, labour mobility, trade agreements and the lack of engagement between governments and the private sector.

Some positive outcomes that was announced at the meeting were the avenues for the Australian private sector to collaborate with the Pacific private sector, improving or expanding existing Pacific programmes e.g SBEC model in Samoa, intensification of the private sector in trade negotiations and the possible set up of a regional financing (investment fund) facility.

AusAID also announced its support for capacity building of the private sector in the area of Trade Negotiations.

AusAID has agreed to fund Trade Negotiations training for the private sector on key trade issues through the University of Adelaide. This trade training is expected to be conducted in Fiji in early July. PIPSO will update its members when more information comes to hand.

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

Furthermore, the Managing Director of Senikai Spas, and Principal of the South Pacific Academy of Beauty Therapy, Mrs Debra Sadranu has kindly offered 10 free Certificate Courses in Manicures and Nail Care for disabled women in Fiji.

The one-week course is valued at $370.00 each and will be conducted at one of the Senikai Spas in Nadi.

The seed capital and free training courses will support disabled women across the Pacific to be involved in economic activities by starting up businesses and creating a future for themselves.

PIPSO will continue to advocate for the support for disabled people involved in business. At the same time, we hope that more companies from the Pacific to come forward to with support to the Pacific Disability Forum.

Survey reveals support for industry based clustering PIPSO conducted a survey on the recommendations made in the Study on Building Business Value Chains, which recommended the development of clusters within the key industries to be able to address the key policy and constraints to the development and growth of the various industries.

The survey looked at how familiar businesses were towards the concept of clustering and whether such concepts were currently practiced.

The survey also explored how best perhaps this concept could be piloted in the region.

Over 90 individuals in key industries were interviewed and gave these responses: * 68% - understood concept of clusters. * 80% - agreed on an industry based clusters approach * 67% - identified the need for Business Capacity Development. * 53% - identified access to finance as the second major area of support need to develop the clusters Yet to be finalised is whether clusters should focus on general industries or identify key products within the sector to focus on individually. Furthermore, the commitment of the practitioners willing to take on and drive this initiative forward for the betterment of their industries and products also needs to be ascertained and therefore there is a need for a strong leader.

For detailed information on the survey, please visit the PIPSO website: www.pipsp.org.fj

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Adi Chocolate - True artisan chocolate harvested and processed in Fiji

mouth marketing to get their product out to possible buyers.

“After our sales started to raise, we decided to focus on developing a “high quality” product image to secure more consumer interest. We actually care a lot about the production and improving the packaging more than ever and still do.”

Social networking sites like Facebook helped a lot along side the many recommendations that his chocolate received from expatriate chefs in various resorts who had sampled the chocolate.

In this edition we bring you the delectable story of a Japanese chocolate artisan who came to Fiji with a dream of starting a sushi business.

The birth of Adi Chocolate In 2004 husband and wife Tomo and Harumi Zukoshi migrated from Japan to Savusavu, a small town located on the south coast of Vanua Levu in Fiji.

They started up an authentic Japanese restaurant in this town. As part of their desert menu, the couple would make chocolates and ice cream from cacao pods that they had received from locals.

The demand for their ice cream grew so much that they made more money selling the ice cream rather then their Japanese cuisine.

Soon visitors, chefs and yachtees from all over the world who berthed at this hidden paradise also discovered the wonderful tasting ice cream and chocolate and encouraged them to turn it into a business.

In 2007, they decided to manufacture state of the art 100% Fiji made dark chocolates using all the available resources found in Fiji.

Going into the chocolate business was not a walk in the park. They had to source enough cacao to be able to produce chocolate on a large scale.

“It was hard getting started and trying to meet demand. Fiji does not have the chocolate history or culture like the Olmec, Aztec or Mayans.”

Mr Zukoshi said that when he began

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his search for the cacao pods, he discovered that the trees found in Vanua Levu were overgrown and farmers seemed to have abandoned this crop for a more profitable and were unenthusiastic to replant it.

He traced the history of these trees to colonial times when the British had brought the plants to Fiji. When the market for cacao failed, these plants were abandoned and lay ideal in the deep rainforests of Vanua Levu.

Mr Zukoshi did not give up there, he was determined to find a farmer willing to supply him with the cacao pods.

“We searched and searched and finally found a cacao farmer who had harvested some cacao for many years without cutting down the trees.

“We helped revitalize the soulful trees through a year long process of pruning and finally our hard work paid off and we harvested the Fijian cacao pods.”

When asked about the name of his chocolate brand, Mr Zukoshi said that the name “Adi” originates from the Fijian word for ‘woman’. He added that the name was a tribute to the women of Fiji who worked hard to look after their families.

“Fijian Women are very nice and elegant and most of my workers comprise of women,” he said.

Apart from its unique name, consumers are eager to buy this unique product that uses 100% fijian grown fruits and ingredients.

Key ingredients in the chocolate are Fijian cacao, Fijian cane sugar, Fiji Bounty Rum infused raisins, kava, chillies, and Lomaiwai sea salt.

Adi chocolate is also supplied to the kitchens of 9 hotels and resorts in Fiji.

Namale Resort and Fiji Beach and Spa is supplied with special turndown guest chocolate, Holiday Inn Suva with Fijian chocolate for their fountain chocolate, Pearl Resort for cooking chocolate, Intercontinental for all their chocolates and chocolate events, Outrigger, Sofitel, Sheraton, Westin, Tanoa, for the high end cooking chocolate and Castaway for all the chocolates include special events Fairtrade and HACCP certification “We are currently trying to form cacao growers association to safeguard the quality issue along with fairtrade and HACCP.”

Supplying to hotels and retail outlets Internationally, Adi Chocolate is exported to Japan, Australia, Belgium and the

Mr Zukoshi also explained that the cyclones Fiji faced in late 2012 had some adverse effects on his company.

the hard working nurses who have been the backbone support of the healthy community,”.

“Cyclone Evan eradicated flowers which was supposed to bear fruits in the earlier part of the 2013, so our cacao harvest will be slightly delayed this year,” he said.

Growing the chocolate Empire Although Adi Chocolate began its operations in Savusavu, its factory is now based in Namaka, Nadi.

During cyclone Evan, Fiji also experienced water cuts and power blackouts which also halted the production of the chocolate. A nearby factory, Bakles was kind enough to allow Adi Chocolate to continue its operations in a corner of their factory.

The production resumed through a shared generator powering both companies.

“We have selected the International Trade Centre aiding programme to get HACCP certificate as well as Fairtrade.

It is important for us now to keep our current quality standard or better.”

Mr Zukoshi explains that there is still a long way to go but with GHP and HACCP, the company will surely gain much more international recognition with sales and export increase.

The company also makes cocoa butter and cocoa powder, and are planning to make chocolate truffles.

It was at this point that Mr Zukoshi and his wife knew that they could then make chocolate history by being one of the few chocolate makers in the South Pacific.

Social Corporate responsibility The company believes in spreading the joy of chocolate to the world and also giving back to the community.

The company has participated in numerous fundraising efforts by providing specially made chocolate bars, which are sold, for a good cause.

During Valentines day, the company made small heart chocolate bars which were sold in aid of raising funds for the CWM Hospital in Suva.

Overcoming Challenges “Harvesting cacao is a hard job and it’s brutal on the neck as you have to look up all day.”

“We participated in the CWM Hospital fundraising simply because of the humanistic approach. We do not know exactly how much was raised but we donated our sincere heart to

“Mosquitoes and bees attacked us all the time and we had to carry the harvested 30 - 65 kg (1000 – 2000) pods in a nylon bag to the roadside on our shoulders.

We had to walk on a slippery timber bridge sometimes under heavy rain which is tough even for a very strong Fijian man,” said Mr Zukoshi.

Rats and other insects love the sweet smell and taste of the cacao pods and attack the fruit. This sometimes leads to pods being discarded and unusable.

Marketing Fiji made chocolate Initially Adi Chocolate relied on word of the

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

USA. Locally, the product is sold at Duty Free outlets like Prouds, Tappoos, Jack’s, Lazy Chef in Suva and Air Pacific in flight shopping.

March Issue

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

“Our move to Nadi was market driven movement and due to the warmer drier climate in Nadi which is conducive to good drying conditions for the cacao beans.

Location close to the international airport was also part of our decision to move to Nadi,” said Mr Zukoshi The company also opened an entertainment chocolate factory at Fiji’s exclusive tourist destination Denarau Island, home to over 7 internationally recognized hotel franchises. The factory is 400 square meters in size and will be a production and retail site for families and tourists to visit and be entertained by the chocolate makers.

The company has also won two national awards and was recognized by the Prime Minister as being a Small exporter and Unique Exporter.

After winning this ward, Mr Zukoshi returned to Savusavu to share the happiness of this win with farmers and initial supporters of Adi Chocolate.

Adi chocolate has also recently received certification for being a 100% Fijian made product.

There are so many endless possibilities for Mr Zukoshi to grow his business. Even on his facebook page, he is constantly uploading pictures of the possible future Fijian flavours that he could be adding to this chocolate e.g seafood flavours.

We wish him well with all his future endeavours.

* Photos sourced from Adi Chocolate facebook page and website

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Bring home the Hollywood bling - Pacific composer

By Lisa W Lahari - Media Specialist SICCI

The results formed stunning performances throughout the Gala night and have created an inspirational fit for more youth into events run by the business community.

In briefings with the Chamber staff and managing board, Ete has already made it clear that one of the benefits from engaging with youth through music is developing and supporting their interest in the performing and creative arts as a career.

Photo: Shiri Ram, Art and Soul

The idea that the Pacific region needs to take hold of its own creative and music industry and begin tapping into the serious dollars that are to be earned is taking traction—and Ete is proof of that.

He juggles twin worlds with one foot in academia where he has excelled at the mainstream western styles of music composition, and the other in Hollywood, where he has brought Pacific voices and culture to the music arrangements of The Lord of the Rings blockbusters.

He comes across as an everyday character, but beneath the engaging voice and flair for words, Samoa’s Tuilagi Igelese Ete is serious about one thing.

He knows his business is a billion dollar industry; and he wants to Later this year, he returns to work with Peter ensure more Pacific people can Jackson and team to assist with the same for The Hobbit, and is working with Disney tap into it. on a yet to be released animated movie set As a composer and conductor, in the Pacific Islands.

Ete is accustomed to keeping his customers – his audiences “We have to ensure our people are smart enthralled when he has his back and not having billions taken from their to them, threading choral and traditional knowledge and intellectual music harmonies together. In property, and investment from governments the Solomon Islands as keynote is key to that,” he says…”we have to bring it speaker and music conductor for a about, and ensure it remains sustainable.”

Solomon Voices choir performing at the nation’s inaugural Business Australia and New Zealand governments Excellence Awards, Ete gave lead the Pacific way in that regard thanks the March 23 gathering at the to state funding for film-making in Australia, Heritage Park some of that and New Zealand’s ‘Creative NZ’ government performance magic – and more. fund for fostering the arts and marketing it to the world. Ete and many NZ-based Pacific Those driving economic growth Islands talents were able to grow their in the Solomon Islands, including careers through those strong links between the Prime Minister Gordon Darcy government support with arts councils and Lilo, saw another side of Ete the artistic community. when he shared his ideas on the economic potential of Pacific Amongst the peaks of his journey since then – the role of composer for the Rugby creativity .

World Cup finale and closing ceremony.

Ete was in the Solomon’s as Describing the magic and high emotions of part of a partnership between that moment when millions of TV viewers the Chamber of Commerce and worldwide witnessed host country New Industry and the University of Zealand bringing their x-factor and the All the South Pacific, where he is Blacks back to the top of world rugby, head of Performing Arts. He and Ete says, “it was a time when the Pacific USP colleague Jolame Cagi spent Islands were brought to the centre, rather two weeks working alongside an than being marginalised on the side. It open-call Solomon Islands choir. reaffirmed we are a part of the landscape

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of New Zealand – not just the negative part.”

That attitude has energised his approach to working with the USP member countries across the region, and his work with the Solomons Chamber for Commerce and Industry.

And just as Peter Jackson has done in bringing Hollywood to New Zealand – a move that keeps New Zealanders employed and makes him a living economic asset to his country, Ete argues more Pacific countries and talents can do the same.

His Suva-based position is helping him to spread the word across the developing members of the USP on how to boost the economic potential of the Pacific Creative sector. While countries such as Fiji are taking on the NZ and Australia lead for bringing the global filmmakers to our world, Ete is mindful of the need to sustain potential rather than boosting it.

And as for the future of Pacific arts as a career choice and serious contributor to GDP? It’s important that leaders get on board with assisting and building the systems that will make it happen. From infrastructure to policy, from funding to building public ownership and conversations so that more people can live their dreams or gain employment in the arts sector.

Ete has been hard at work making that happen in Fiji, Samoa and the rest of the Pacific.

“It’s about creating an industry where the world can come to us. Peter Jackson brings all the production houses around the world to his door.

His message is if you want us, you come to New Zealand. He makes lots of money for people in New Zealand, brings jobs to the region, and creates product for overseas and economic investment.”

How to start growing the Jackson or Ete mentality? Developing scholarships for the arts and developing standards and performance is key, says Ete. “How can we recognise creative scholarships to empower people to know it is not just a hobby, but an amazing job that will inspire others?” By sharing his message with leaders in the Solomon’s business community and government, Tuilagi Igelese Ete as an ambassador for the Pacific arts industry may well help to answer his own question.

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

March Issue

Chamber strengthens partnership Savaii Business Association Source: Samoa Chamber of Commerce The Samoa Chamber of Commerce during their visit to Savaii for the WTO Workshop met with representatives from the Savaii Business Association to gauge their progress since their last meeting.

In July 2011, the Chamber encouraged the several businesses they initially met with in Salelologa to form a business organization in Savaii that could be linked to the Chamber in Apia. It was envisioned that this partnership would ensure the organization would be provided with technical support, information dissemination, training opportunities, grant funding resources and most importantly, an opportunity to contribute to policy development through a unified Private Sector voice.

A year later, the Chamber President Namulauulu Sami Leota and the Chamber Chief Executive Officer, Ane Moananu, initiated a meeting to identify ways in which the partnership could be further strengthened, as well as areas in which the Association needed assistance from the Chamber. President of the Savaii Business Association Leta’a Taunese Purvis thanked the Chamber for bringing the WTO Workshop to Savaii, as well as the increasing recognition of the Savaii Business Association in Private Sector decision making.

Leta’a further elaborated on key areas

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in which they needed support, including finance training for their 49 members as well as the rest of Savaii businesses, and the establishment of a proper SBA Secretariat to ensure consistent and formalized communication channels are set up between SBA and the Chamber.

The President and CEO of Chamber reassured Leta’a and SBA that the Secretariat in Apia stands ready to assist the Association and a number of avenues are available for assistance such as the Private Sector Support Facility and the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program.

The President acknowledged and reiterated the need for commitment, dedication and patience from the Association, and noted the importance of working together to ensure coordinated responses from SBA and businesses in Savaii are incorporated into Private Sector positions and submissions for government policy development.

The Chamber is Samoa’s National Private Sector Organisation (NPSO). It is an incorporated association of businesses, private sector organizations and business people representing all areas of Samoa’s private sector. Chamber’s purpose is to promote the interests, well-being and growth of Samoa’s private sector at the national, regional and international levels to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Samoa.

NPSO news in Brief Small Business Tax Paper The Tonga Chamber of Commerce held its members event on Small Business Tax, 27th of February 2013 and received a constructive feedback on this issue from members. A policy paper has been developed and accepted as a TCCI Policy Paper on Small Business Tax. A formal submission has been submitted to the Ministry of Revenue as an overall comment from TCCI in regards to the Proposed Small Business Tax on the 27th of March 2013. ..................................................

PACER Plus Presentation The CEO for the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour (MCTL), Mr. Tatafu Moeaki presented the latest updates on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) to the TCCI Members and the public at the TCCI Conference room on Tuesday 7th March 2013 starting at 11:00 AM. The Speaker indicated the key challenges and potential benefits of trade between Tonga and the other Pacific Islands. ..................................................

New location for SICCI Office The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)has relocated its office to a new location.

The SICCI secretariat, previously at the NPF Building in Point Cruz, is now located at the Hyundai Mall, on First Floor, Suite 223.

Solomon Airlines takes out top honours in Business Excellence Awards Solomon Islands national air carrier Solomon Airlines took out top honours at the inaugural Solomon Islands Business Excellence Awards.

The airlines walked away with the Prime Minister’s Business of the Year Award, Business Contribution to the Community Award, Most Innovative Business Award and co-runner up in the Green Award.

In a press release the Airlines’ General Manager Commercial and Operations Gus Kraus is quoted saying “the Business of the Year Award from Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo,

encouraged the airline to work even harder to improve the quality of its service and business”.

In the category of contribution to the community the airline has been active in its in-flight collection for infants which is run in support with the Rotary Club of Solomon Islands which has raised $130,000 since it started in the second quarter of 2012 and $140,000 during the Airline’s 50th anniversary fundraising drive for the National Referral Hospital’s Gynaecology and

Emergency Ward.

In the Green Category; Solomon Airlines was recognised for its new energy efficient headquarters at Henderson which will be fully sustainable by next year including the use of solar powered air conditioners and the rolling out of its new Green policy.

For Business Innovation; it was recognised for adopting new technology such as the Airbus A320, its new Dash 8 aircraft, energy efficient office, its new in-house training scheme, and its

A region of opportunities for all people to grow and prosper

innovative partnership with its staff union.

The Prime Minister’s Award winner was chosen by a select panel of Chamber appointed judges based on the most outstanding nominations across all categories.

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce oversees the Business Excellence Awards scheme in December 2012.

The aim of the awards is to encourage economic growth and recognise the contribution of business to national development.

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Quarterly Commodity Statistics The graphs and information on commodity prices presented below were obtained from various sources online and reflect current world trends. The statistics are for general information purposes and should not be deemed as investment advice. Some commodities highlighted may change from time to time depending on changes in market trends.

Requests for other data or clarifications can be facilitated through the PIPSO Secretariat. Email: Erica Lee at erical@pipso.org.fj for more information.

Cocoa prices from January - March 2013

Composite Coffee Prices March 2013

* SDR - Special Drawing Rights - Basket of major currencies US dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, and pound sterling

Composite Coffee Prices include Colombian Milds, Other Milds, Brazilian Naturals and Robustas

Source: International Cocoa Organisation

Coconut Oil prices September 2012 - March 2013

Palm Oil Prices September 2012 - March 2013

Source: International Coffee Organisation

Copra Prices September 2012 - March 2013

Commodity Fuel September 2012 - March 2013

* Commodity Fuel includes crude oil, natural gas and coal prices

Coconut Oil, Palm oil, Commodity Fuel and Copra graphs were sourced from Index Mundi - www.indexmundi.com which uses World Bank and International Monetary Fund data.

PASIFIKA BUSINESS WATCH Published by: Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation Some information and photos contained in this newsletter were supplied or obtained from development partners, Members, Affiliates and Associates of PIPSO. To receive a copy of this publication please email: erical@pipso.org. fj or visit our website www.pipso.org

Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation 3 Goodenough Street Lynica House P.O.Box U30 Suva Fiji