Chamber News

Tourism seat on the VCCI Council

Are you a member of the Tourism sector, looking for a great opportunity? A position on the VCCI Council has become available due the resignation of Elizabeth Pechan, who will be greatly missed by staff and fellow councilors alike of VCCI. We are interested in receiving expressions of interest from tourism business representatives, who would like to bring their passion, experience and sector network to the Tourism seat. We are looking for a cover letter, explaining why you are interested in the position on the Council, and what you would bring if you were appointed to the Council, which will be discussed and decided upon at the next Council meeting on 10 June 2021. Expressions of Interest can be emailed directly to Astrid Boulekone, General…

Second Stimulus Package

It was with great pleasure that I listened to the announcement from the Prime Minister on Friday with regards to a second stimulus package. This scheme provides hope to businesses that they will get through this crisis. If we are able to keep the majority of businesses open and people in jobs then this will reduce both the short-term humanitarian impact of COVID-19, and make our recovery more likely in the future. The Wage Subsidy Scheme is targeting businesses who have been most impacted, and directly contributes to the salaries of their workers. By protecting these businesses and jobs, the Government is sending a clear message of determination and hope out into the community. The SME Support Scheme provides direct support to many of our…

3 Tips for Other Women in Business

“I’m starting to see the results in my business now and this is what inspires me” says Sylvia with her warm and cheeky smile. A brave and resilient businesswoman from Mele, Sylvia has seen her share of struggles and discloses her thoughts and tips to us, in the hope to provide inspiration to others facing the same situations. Sylvia has been managing her family store for some years now, and juggling the children, the family obligations and keeping everyone happy hasn’t always been easy. It got tougher with the COVID situation. Her husband has now been away for 15 months working the banana fields in Australia. This has meant more responsibilities for her to manage. But luckily, she is not alone. Her brother Eric attended…

Private Sector Supports Oxfam Disability Initiative

The compounding impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, Tropical Cyclone Harold, and volcano ashfall in Vanuatu, spanning from March 2020 until today has resulted in a significant reduction in income and livelihoods across Vanuatu, particularly amongst households with pre-existing vulnerabilities. The Oxfam UnBlocked Cash program supports people affected by the cyclone, COVID-19 job losses, and the ash fall, and has now launched its support program in Shefa province focusing on people living with disabilities. Despite the Oxfam approach being different in each province, there’s one thing that’s proven consistent: that the private sector engagement has been exceedingly strong. Led by the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC) the engagement of the private sector focuses on the shops and stores who are referred to as ‘vendors’ and their support…

April workshops coming up!

April’s workshop schedule is hotting up! More information below, register to book your seats now: How to Register Business START SMART- 06th April Would you like to start your own business? Here’s where to start by joining our facilitator Lopez Adams for a half day workshop on how to START SMART. Lopez will take you through the steps you need to take to start a business, including taking your idea and looking at it first from all angles. This workshop is great for anyone who wants to take the first step into running their own business. Don’t forget to START SMART! Business Basics – 09th April This full day workshop, facilitated by ANZ banks Turoa Vatoko, provides you with a greater understanding on how you…

Assessment of blockchain technology opportunities to support business resilience

The Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC) with the support of the Connecting Business Initiative (CBi) are exploring options to use blockchain technology to support businesses and improve trade between urban and rural areas of Vanuatu, and linking with overseas markets. Vanuatu is pioneering blockchain technology use in the field with its “unblocked cash transfer” program, which is currently being implemented by Oxfam in partnership with the VBRC, and was tasked for the distribution of aid funds in response to the category five Tropical Cyclone Harold which struck Vanuatu April 2020. After the successful trial of cash distribution, the VBRC wants to leverage on the lessons learned and extend the benefits of blockchain technology to facilitate the movement of goods, funds and services from and towards…

Raising Up Women in Business

During the month of February nine businesswomen have begun their journey in the Phoenix Women in Business program lead by the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC). The Phoenix Project is a COVID-19 response project funded by the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund, with technical support from UN Women and is only one of 5 such grants awarded in the Pacific. “We were delighted that for the first time Vanuatu has been granted this sort of funding and that it was our bid that was chosen out of the global competitive selection” says Glen Craig, VBRC Chairman. “As a result, the participating women business owners will be given the tools to endure the current period of economic downturn, then supported to grow their business the right…

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…

Oxfam Unblocked Cash Transfer Program Now Extending to Shefa

With the successful implementation of the Oxfam Unblocked Cash Transfer program in Sanma and Tafea provinces, Oxfam is now focusing on rolling out implementation for Shefa Province. With the support of Oxfam’s partners including the Vanuatu Society of People Living with Disability (VSPD) and the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC), as well as Save the Children, Vanuatu Red Cross and Vanuatu Christian Council are working hand in hand to extend this program to Efate and off shore islands has now begun. This program provides assistance to those most in need as a result of the combined effects of COVID, volcanic ashfall (in Tafea) and TC Harold and the resulting impact people’s livelihoods which created hardship in many areas of Vanuatu. For the Shefa program, given…

Want staff who are more appropriately skilled to work in your industry?

Cut down your time training new staff by strengthening the skills they are learning at our national training institutes. VQA needs your industry knowledge. The Vanuatu Qualifications Authority is working with VCCI to find the best private sector individuals to review subjects and skills taught in our national training and vocational education centres so that the quality of the training improves and the graduates are better able to hit the ground running in the workplaces. The way that it currently works is that when a higher education facility or training institution wishes to teach any course that provides a qualification, the modules taught need to be approved by the Vanuatu Qualifications Board. The first step is for every unit of competency that makes up this…

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