A new training programme launched by the Labour Progressive coalition government today will give Pacific businesses a boost by providing business skills support and assistance says Economic Development Minister, Jim Anderton and Associate Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Taito Philip Field.

“Pacific peoples have vibrant cultures that can provide opportunities to develop current businesses and to start new ventures. Pacific business people themselves have suggested that enterprise skills training is what they need to help them develop their potential,” said Jim Anderton.

“The government is committed to seeing Pacific peoples participation in the economy expanded. Government has a role in providing education and training services for Pacific peoples, and addressing any barriers to access. It is important that Pacific peoples have access to the skills and knowledge and possess the confidence to attract investment for their marketable ideas,” Taito Philip Field said.

Jim Anderton also commented that: “The Pacific unemployment rate is too high at 6.6% (Sept 2003). This rate, however, is greatly reduced from when Don Brash’s ideological colleague Ruth Richardson was Minister of Finance. Then the Pacific Island unemployment rate never fell below 22.9%, and peaked above 30% during her years in office. This demonstrates how much difference the positive results of the constructive approach taken by this government have made.”

“The Pacific business training programme aims to lift employment, management skills, and business capability, all essential to assist Pacific communities reduce this unemployment rate and increase their levels of self employment,” said Jim Anderton.

4.4% of Pacific people are self employed, just one third of the national rate (2001 figures).

Background:

A new training programme aimed at helping Pacific people improve their business skills is being piloted by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) from next month.

NZTE Business Development Group Manager Hans Frauenlob says the five-month pilot programme aims to improve the management capability and productivity of Pacific people’s businesses and to increase the number of businesses being established by Pacific people in New Zealand.

The new programme is being run by the Pacific Business Trust (PBT) and includes group workshops and one-to-one coaching, he says.

“The Pacific population in New Zealand is expected to double in the next 50 years and we’ve recognised the need to help improve the business skills of Pacific people and to enhance prospects for the future as increasing numbers of Pacific youth enter the workforce.”

Mr Frauenlob says Pacific people are already succeeding in business across a range of sectors, but commercialising their competitive advantages, especially in the creative industries, is an acknowledged challenge.

“The Pacific community themselves have identified that small business and self-employment are promising avenues towards increasing their work prospects and returns from employment. Ultimately we hope many of the Pacific owned and/or operated businesses that this new training programme will help foster will have an export focus, generating valuable foreign exchange and jobs.”

The new training programme is aimed at Pacific people interested in starting a business or those who are newly in business and will include workshops on a range of topics such as business planning, marketing and compliance issues/costs then follow-up coaching one-on-one. The programme will be offered in Auckland and Wellington initially, then extended to other regional centres.

 

Pacific Business Trust Chief Executive Jim Mather says his

organisation is excited about the potential results from the new training programme and the NZTE/PBT partnership.

“This programme is critical to the Pacific business community as it addresses the low participation of Pacific peoples’ accessing

mainstream business development and training services. Some of the historical reasons have been communication barriers and cultural issues.”

Mr Mather hopes that greater numbers of Pacific entrepreneurs will go on from this programme to more advanced training opportunities delivered by NZTE’s existing Enterprise Training Programme.

“The Pacific business community has a special contribution to make to the economic growth of New Zealand. We are ready, willing and able to make that contribution and this new training programme is a great opportunity for Pacific people.”