On 11 November, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) hosted an e-commerce workshop to enhance the online entrepreneurial skills of women handicraft vendors in Vanuatu, a key subsector sustaining the local economy and contributing to employment and sustainable development.

“The Pacific Islands are rich with unique products that have tremendous potential on the global stage,” said Zarak Khan, PIF’s Director of Programmes & Initiatives. “This training is a crucial step in empowering our women entrepreneurs not only to expand their local businesses but also tap into international markets, boosting trade and fostering economic growth across the region.”

The training equipped over 25 women known as ‘Mamas’, with basic e-commerce skills that would allow them to promote their handicrafts online and process digital payments. To help them access international markets, Vanuatu’s Customs and Biosecurity officers also participated in the workshop, offering valuable guidance on the regulatory environment and logistics of exporting goods.

Participants shared positive feedback, with Merly Sherly, a vendor from Nguna Island, expressing her appreciation: “Thank you for the training. It really helped me to learn things that I thought were too complicated. Through the training, I realized that I could do this (e-commerce), and I can use digital payments accessible to me.”

The workshop for the Mamas is part of the PIF E-Biz Plus program, designed to enhance the digital capabilities of small Pacific businesses, helping them expand their market reach, boost sales and compete globally. The program, which extends to Niue, Tonga, and Vanuatu, is delivered by PIF and supported by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, all within the framework of the Pacific E-commerce Initiative and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.