E-COMMERCE, buying or selling products and services using the internet opens exciting opportunities for businesses in Fiji to connect with international markets.
It has also dawned as a fast growing medium of businesses in the Pacific Islands to trade with the rest of world.
With this, Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia in partnership with the Fiji Export Council will be delivering an e-commerce workshop in Suva this Thursday November 22 and Friday November 23 in Nadi.
According to Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes, PTI Australia’s e-commerce workshop was a great opportunity for businesses to gain better understanding of e-commerce and how it works.
He also commended PTI Australia and the Fiji Export Council for collaborating to bring this opportunity to businesses in Fiji.
“Over the last few years there’s been a real shift in the trade sector with online platforms making it easier for businesses in Fiji to connect with international buyers. The digital revolution has accelerated the global production of goods and services, particularly e-commerce,” he said in a statement.
“Aside from reducing distribution costs, e-commerce offers myriad opportunities of accessing the global market and reaching new customers.
“To have this opportunity to learn from an Amazon expert and PTI Australia will be really beneficial for Fijian exporters, this is a valuable collaboration between Australia and the Fiji’s private sector.”
PTI Australia’s general manager – exports Jeremey Grennell said although businesses in Fiji and the Pacific had to contend with high trade costs due to geographic remoteness, platforms like Amazon Marketplace significantly lowered the barriers to entry.
“Our recent Pacific Islands Export Survey found that only 36 per cent of exporters in the Pacific have their own website, platforms like Amazon provide a great entry point for businesses in Fiji looking to reach international markets,” he said.
“With the launch of Amazon Australia’s market place we can see the potential for this platform to drive exports for Fiji. That’s why as part of PTI Australia’s Digital Trade program we know it’s important to bring to Fiji experts that can add real value and empower businesses in Fiji with the tools to succeed.”
The workshop seeks to highlight the importance that Fiji exporters look at how online channels fit into their business strategy.
This workshop will help businesses to understand how e-commerce might fit with their strategy. I’m thrilled PTI Australia are bringing over an Amazon expert, Peter Nobbs from Coach AMZ. Amazon is such a large platform, for a business in the Pacific it can be pretty daunting to understand where to start to list on Amazon.
*There are a limited number of places at the workshop to find out more contact Malcolm Ralisa, Fiji Export Council e: admin@fijiexportcouncil.com
Founded in 1979, PTI Australia is an agency of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and is the Pacific region’s lead export and investment facilitation agency; funded by the Australian Government.
