Free Financial Literacy for Businesses
It is estimated that small private businesses provide up to 75% of the employment in Vanuatu and often the struggle to maintain and grow these businesses is real. However, with all of the additional support now on offer from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) that is changing – and fast. Their new suite of business support services includes entry level financial literacy workshops that are the result of a partnership between VCCI and ANZ Vanuatu. These workshops were piloted in 2020 and are on offer to business license holders each quarter during 2021, and they are free to all business owners.
The pilot workshops were held in Port Vila town as well as Mele Village. The follow up which was conducted to observe how behaviours have changed in the businesses afterwards, demonstrated that what was learnt was implemented and put to good use.
“We know how tough it can be to run and maintain a business” adds Astrid Boulekone, VCCI General Manager “and with this basic financial course we have received great feedback. We would like to thank ANZ and credit the thoughtful delivery of facilitator Turoa Vatoko who connects well with the business people and coaches them in Bislama, so it’s easy for the clients to understand.”
The ANZ Business Basics workshop includes support for business owners who require basic financials and need to understand things like what is a business plan and how to create one, what is a cashflow and how important it is to separate business and personal finances.
VCCI has plans to extend this support as well as other relevant workshops and programs for businesses out to the provinces and other islands during this year.
Any business owner with a business license is automatically a member of VCCI and may enrol in the free workshop. The next Business Basics workshop is to be held on the 24th of Mach in Port Vila – enrolments can be made by calling VCCI on 27543 or online directly at www.vcci.vu under events.
