PEN is a Wellington based volunteer group that seeks to significantly increase the level of NZ's exports to Pacific Island countries. Our aim is to play a constructive role in achieving the export target of the Government's Business Growth Agenda - namely to increase NZ's exports from the current 30% to 40% of GDP by 2025.
Basic digital access is central to how most people live, but 2.6 billion people are offline, 1.4 billion are unbanked and 850 million lack official identification. There is a sense of urgency to connect the unconnected including at the World Bank which is ramping up its work on digitisation. The World Bank can support countries develop... Keep Reading
We are often told that development projects in the Pacific region are doing wonders for the Pacific countries lucky enough to get one. Given that NZ Aid is now funded to around an annual $1 billion level, we wonder how long it takes to get a project up and running and producing benefits to donee countries. We note that Ajay Banga - World... Keep Reading
Since PEN's successful trade mission to Vanuatu in June, the idea of some kind of a permanent business forum has been given much consideration. Dialogue with some Pacific High Commissioners based in Wellington, convinced us that the time was right to establish a Pacific High Commissioners Business Forum based in Wellington. On 18 October a... Keep Reading
There has been much praise being heaped on the recently signed EU Free Trade Agreement. Is it worth all the effort that has been devoted to it over many years? We think that is worth a closer look. While NZ claims the deal will eventually allow its producers tariff free access for 97% of goods, we see that the EU retains the use of quotas for... Keep Reading
The Mission to Vanuatu 19/23 June has concluded. We can now report on the results as discussed with the three Wellington based participants. Overall the impression is that this was an outstanding mission. All enjoyed the ocassion and say they could not have expected better treatment by the Vanuatu hosts. The official welcome was presided over by. Keep Reading
The Pacific Exporters' Network (PEN) announces its first trade mission. We have 4 Wellington based exporters arriving in Port Vila on Saturday 17 June. The mission which is lead by prominent Wellington businessperson, Colin Carr, will start the mission with a breakfast hosted by the NZ High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Nicci Simmonds, on... Keep Reading
PEN is pleased to announce its first ever Pacific trade mission to Vanuatu from 19 to 23 June. Travel will be over the weekends via Fiji to Port Vila. There is also a side visit planned to Santo. The Mission has the support of HE Jimmy Nipo, the High Commissioner for Vanuatu, who is based in Wellington. So far, we have 5 Wellington based Pacific. Keep Reading
It has been many months since PEN organised an event. This has been due to Covid restrictions and a wish not to help spread Covid within our membership. We are now arranging a breakfast event at The Old Bailey in Lambton Quay at 7.30am on Wednesday 5 April. Members and supporters are welcome to attend. As a guest speaker we have Brooke van... Keep Reading
As a part of PEN's ongoing effort to link NZ Pacific exporters to businesses in Pacific countries, we have arranged, in association with NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the ANZ Bank, a Zoom briefing on Vanuatu. This is scheduled to take place at mid day on 14 February. We invite all NZ businesses with an interest in the Pacific to... Keep Reading
The results have produced a coalition to govern Fiji for the next 4 years. Sitiveni Rabuka's return to the Prime Ministers role after 16 years, is good news for New Zealand and Australia. Under Frank Bainimarama, Fiji moved toward China's orbit, but some CCP projects in Fiji remain in limbo and were of little help in turning around the... Keep Reading
The next Pacific Business Briefing will be on Tonga on 26 October 2022 at 11am. Tonga opened its border on 1 August and we will hold a webinar to discuss the many business opportunities Tonga offers to NZ exports. In particular we will look at the rebuild of Tonga that resulted from February's volcanic eruption and Tsunami. Again we will be... Keep Reading
The briefing attracted 60 plus viewers from NZ Samoa and Australia. This was the second NZTE/ANZ/PEN briefing and it proved to be a well spent hour for those who connected. The presenters were David Dewar, NZ Pacific Trade Commissioner (based in Suva), Gareth Coleman, ANZ;s Head of Trade and Supply Chain for NZ and the Pacific and Bernie Poort,.. Keep Reading
Following our 22 April briefing via Zoom on Cook Islands, we now have arranged another Zoom virtual briefing for 10am- 7 July. This will be about export and business opportunities in Samoa. With Samoa's border opening in early August, we think that now is the right time to consider how to reconnect with or get to know Samoan importers, given... Keep Reading
The briefing on Cook Islands attracted 42 participants.The main speakers were David Dewar NZ Trade Commissioner for the Pacific, Gareth Coleman, ANZ Bank's Head of Trade and Supply Chain for NZ and the Pacific, Bernadette Shaw, ANZ's Country Manager, Cook Islands. The briefing covered a wide area of NZ/ Cook Islands trade prospects and lasted... Keep Reading
The proposed video seminar with the ANZ Bank's Cook Islands Branch Manager in 8 April has been rescheduled to 10am on 22 April. Regrettably the NZ Trade Commissioner in Suva (who covers to Pacific) was unable to participate. Further the seminar will be shown via NZTE's Zoom platform and will be extended to include other NZ exporters with an... Keep Reading
Pacific Exporter's Network