VCCI training to Shefa Small Businesses to thinking innovatively!
19 business owners and managers from across Shefa province have completed an intensive 8 day training workshop on Product Innovation, Quality Innovation and Business Planning training, facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier this month.
This training was organized in collaboration with the Department of Cooperatives, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Industry, who assisted in the identification of businesses in attendance. These business men and women are all experienced operators, managing and running farms, guest houses and bungalows, retailing, handicraft, tour guiding, manufacturing and cooperatives in Efate, Epi, Emae, Tongoa and Nguna.
The training focused on discussing and learning about innovation and creativity in Product and Services, with participants then able to use this learning when looking at their own businesses from a fresh perspective.
The training was delivered by VCCI Business Trainer Irene Titek at Le Life Resort, in North Efate. She quoted: ‘More and more in today’s marketplace businesses have to think smarter and more innovatively, to stand out from the rest. They need to be producing quality goods or providing quality services in order to grow and thrive. With the focus on their product and service’s uniqueness or market niche and operating in line with a business plan.
Participants also contributed in discussion and here is an example of a great idea, Irene Jack – Frangipani Bungalow from Lamen Bay Epi, was thinking of planting frangipani trees around her bungalows to portray and represent her business name, and to attract visitors who also love these flowers.’
Feedback from participants included:
Rosalie Vatu – Bulvanua Handicraft, Efate – ‘What I liked most about this training is that it has helped me to expand my knowledge on my current arts and handicraft and will definitely increase Bulvanua’s suppliers in the Islands after this training’
Lesbeth Daniel – Naniu Cooperative,Tongoa -‘This training has helped me to support Naniu Cooperative in its planning. We have planned to move away from a manual coconut processor to use of machines. Therefore by having a business plan this can assist us in securing funds to purchase a coconut grinding machine to process more quality coconut oil to produce our finished product Virgin Coconut Oil’
James Willie – Nampuawia Guesthouse, Emae – ‘Bringing the forest and the garden to my guesthouse is my innovation plan. I will utilise these like timber from my own land to improve my guesthouses, and use vegetables from my garden in the kitchen to take us to an organic next level which I can market’
Participants who attended the training felt a sense of great achievement at the end of the training upon receiving their Certificate of Attainment from the VCCI representative Yvonne Leo Taiki and Mark Kalotap, Shefa Toursim Manager, Shefa Province.
VCCI would like to thank Enhance Integrated Framework through the Department of External Trade for their continuous support to meet the business needs of Ni-Vanuatu small businesses and we look forward for more collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Industry and Cooperative to groom the Ni-Vanuatu Businesses to be champions in their Sectors.
