Chamber News

START SMART WORKSHOP AT PASENA VILLAGE IN BIG BAY, SANTO

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Northern Provincial Office team members Candyce Simeon and Natelie Noel were invited by the Area Administrator and Area Secretary from Big bay coast to run a Start Smart training workshop for the residents of the area. VCCI staff, conducted the START SMART workshop that equipped the participants with the necessary information needed to start a business. The day was filled with activities, and enough time was given for Q&A that led to discussions on business registration process. The Community was thankful for the service provided and awareness made of the roles, functions and programs that VCCI has been supporting and backing up SME’s, MSME’s or Private Sector with. Some feedback received when interviewing one of the participants was,…

Exciting Business Link Pacific Announcement!

We’re delighted to introduce the Small Grant Facility (SGF), a new service for micro and small businesses as part of the Business Link Pacific Programme (BLP). BLP is a private sector development programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and delivered by DT-Global. The SGF provides grants of less than 200,000 Vatu to support micro and small businesses based on a detailed project budget. This new facility prioritizes businesses led by women, youth, people living with disabilities, indigenous people, and other rural and community-based businesses that have not previously received grant support from BLP.   🌟 To qualify, businesses must: Have been operational for at least 12 months Have a valid bank account Be registered or able to be…

SEWING MAMAS GO THROUGH TEN WEEKS OF WORKSHOPS WITH THE GIVHAN LONG BISNIS PROKRAM

  The Givhan long business program was designed to help businesses with the necessary skills needed to be sustainable and innovative in the Vanuatu Sewing Industry. The 2024 Cohort started off with an induction program to get them ready for the coming weeks and in a speech during the induction program the General Manager of VCCI, Mr. Howard Aru emphasized the importance of making a mindset shift from thinking like a fundraiser to thinking like a business owner. The well-designed workshops emphasized the mindset shift while providing the participants with the necessary skills to make changes to the operations of their businesses. The participants went through workshops that helped them with skills in Basic money management to workshops that helped them with innovation and ideas…

Meet your Council Member, Nicola Barnes.

  Nicola, or Nicky as she is known to her friends, has been living in Vanuatu for the past 17 years and is a proud Vanuatu citizen. Originally hailing from New Zealand, Nicky has lived and worked in the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean, in Africa and in Europe, and has a background in telecommunications.   Since moving to Vanuatu, Nicky has been instrumental in getting TVL (now Vodafone) ready for competition, then worked for the World Bank involved in the setting up of TRBR, before starting her own businesses including Pandanus the gift shop, Pandanus Consulting focusing on marketing and comms, and project and events management. Other businesses she owns include The Point Marina, and the newly launched eco-business venture called Blue Pacific World, which…

Meet Olivier Fernandez, passionate business owner of Gaston Chocolat and active member of VCCI’s national Council!

Olivier’s business focuses mainly on two key activities. Firstly, on providing world class chocolate to the international market, and secondly, providing this same chocolate to the local market, by value adding to locally produced cacao, sourced via Olivier’s vast network of over 200 farmers in Malekula. Gaston Chocolat café, another business venture of Olivier’s, is a beautiful modern café located in the heart of Port Vila town – it’s a place that welcomes you with a rich aroma of roasted cacao and where one can enjoy an amazing cup of local coffee or hot chocolate while having the opportunity learn more about how chocolate is made. Olivier strongly believes that businesses are agents of change and have the power to directly contribute to socio-economic growth…

Mid-Project Reflections Workshop and Coaching

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce (VCCI) and its partners, Department of Labor (DOL) and DARD are currently engaged in a pilot project called “Worker Ready, Investment Ready” Project on the Islands of Tanna, Santo, Malekula and Moso. A Mid-Project Reflections workshop was conducted on July 12 with all the partners to display the main findings of this project and to reflect on the lessons learned from the project while planning for the remaining project period. While on field visit Coaching sessions with the participant were conducted with Participants on Malekula. During the reflections workshop it was identified that coaching sessions that are held with participants on a one-on-one basis, motivates the participants to prioritize and work on their investment plan prior to their travel abroad…

Monitoring and Evaluation Field Visit to Malekula

On a recent Monitoring & Evaluation trip to Malekula, the VCCI team had the opportunity to travel from the North of Malekula to the South of the Island. Malekula that is packed with resources and opportunities that are waiting to be used and explored. The team was able to have meaningful conversations with selected business clients to identify the various challenges that are affecting business across rural Vanautu, while collecting essential data to help support decision makers with real time, reliable information that can help key decision makers make informed decisions that are helpful to the businesses at all levels. VCCI is currently assisting the Department of Industry with Monitoring and Evaluation of its IDF Project roll out across the four provinces of TAFEA, MALAMPA,…

Join the VCCI Givhan long Bisnis Prokram!

VCCI is delighted to announce the running of our Givhan long Bisnis Prokram for bright new businesses in Port Vila and Luganville. This program offers small to medium businesses 6 months of business development support, beginning with a series of workshops over 6 weeks covering a range of topics including goal setting, money management skills, and branding and marketing. Businesses are then matched with a local business mentor, who provides one on one coaching and advice for the following months. The process is designed to allow business men and women access to skills development, as well as a sounding board to assist in better decision making, growth and expansion, and to maximise potential in their business. VCCI understands that small businesses are the backbone of…

We are hiring!

 WE ARE HIRING! VCCI is looking for an experienced Program Manager and a Communications and Events Officer to join the team, based in Port Vila. Please find link to job descriptions below, and how to apply. We encourage those who are passionate about helping MSMEs to thrive to apply now! Program Manager Reporting directly to the General Manager and working with the Member Services Committee of the VCCI Council, the Member Services Program Manager is responsible and accountable for the overall management and implementation of projects and programs, program budgeting, program financial reporting, human resources management, and program related administrative and logistics support within the organisation. Program management and implementation responsibilities include developing project activity plans, budgets and implementation plans, managing the accomplishment of targeted…

Meet your Council Member for Tourism, Mr. Greg Pechan

Greg Pechan is the Co-founder and Owner of The Havannah Vanuatu, an award-winning boutique resort for adults. In 2024, The Havannah Vanuatu was honored in Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards for the South Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand. Greg and his wife, Liz, embarked on this journey in 2009, starting with just six rooms and a restaurant. Reflecting on the early years, Greg acknowledges the initial challenges in defining their unique offering. Over time, the resort has flourished, expanding to 17 Villas, despite facing significant challenges such as severe tropical cyclones, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current Air Vanuatu situation. Throughout these trials, Greg remains immensely proud of the positive impact The Havannah Vanuatu has made in the community….

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Covid 19 Video Updates

31 March 2020
26 March 2020