The PIFS E-commerce Business Toolkits are simple, step-by-step, example-based, guides for a hypothetical business wishing to explore the use of online tools to sell products and services in a given industry and a given geographical context.

As part of the piloting of the PIFS E-commerce Business Plus Program (PIFS E-Biz Plus), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has delivered a a coaching and grant scheme for businesses from the Federate States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

‘Grant scheme’ is the fourth and last step of the PIFS E-Biz Plus. It is a funding opportunity that provides financial support to early-stage tech startups, in the form of a non-repayable grant. These grants are designed to help founders get their businesses off the ground, and may be used to cover expenses such as product development, marketing, or hiring. After receiving training, mentoring and coaching, businesses can access finance to move their business to the next stage – this involves for instance integrating a new payment solution, adding new products, starting a cross-border e-commerce journey or listing more business onto a marketplace. The value of the grant is up to EUR 5,000.

Through this project, PIFS coached and provided grants to eight businesses: two from the Federate States of Micronesia, two from Samoa, two from Tuvalu and two from Vanuatu.