Page 38 - IB August 2021

The Future of Green Entrepreneurship in the Pacific

August 21 was World Entrepreneurs’ Day, a day to celebrate in- 3. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely path - being connected to
st
novation and empowerment of entrepreneurship and leadership networks can build confidence and forge durable roads
to acknowledge entrepreneurs’ achievements and contributions Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly from being connected to sup-
towards job creation and economic growth. In these turbulent portive mentors and coaches who have done it before, and peers
times, there is increasing recognition of just how vital it is to sup- who are walking beside you. Resonating with the Pacific way,
port small businesses to adapt, survive and thrive. having a family of entrepreneurs to believe in, support, guide and
At the recent virtual launch of the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs listen can make a world of difference. Many such networks exist
Network (PGEN), a regional program implemented by the Glob- already and can be strengthened further.
al Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and funded by the Qatar Fund 4. Confidence and creativity are key to successful green entre-
for Development (QFFD), a talanoa session on the topic “What is preneurship
the future of green entrepreneurship in the Pacific?” was held True entrepreneurs don’t just replicate existing businesses, they
featuring inspiring entrepreneurs and business support organiza- see problems and identify creative ways to solve them. Entrepre-
tions from five Pacific Island Countries. neurs, particularly green enterprises testing new and innovative

ideas, need to have passion and confidence to follow through to
bring their ideas to life, to adapt to the evolving challenges they
face and identify and grasp the opportunities therein.
At the launch event, Keynote Speaker, Pacific Islands Devel-
opment Forum (PIDF) Secretary General, Ambassador Solo Mara
stated that “PGEN is an important pathway for women’s economic
empowerment, because entrepreneurship has a multiplier effect
on family well-being, poverty reduction and sustainable economic
growth.”
GGGI’s Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Va-
nuatu, Daniel Muñoz-Smith and moderator of the talanoa session
Green entrepreneurship refers to business enterprises that are
focused on building a better future for their communities and the said, “The talanoa discussion has been an excellent opportunity
to exchange knowledge and begin the dialogue that the PGEN
planet. Green entrepreneurs hold the key to unlocking a transition program aims to continue over the coming years. PGEN aims to
to a green and sustainable future for our planet, enabling current showcase Pacific solutions to Pacific problems on a national, re-
prosperity without jeopardizing that of future generations. gional and global scale.”
The compelling talanoa session showcased well-known Pacific
GGGI’s program plans to support green and inclusive job growth
entrepreneurs and innovators – Kenneth Katafono from TraSeable by supporting entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, de-
Solutions (Fiji), Vani Nades from Emstret Holdings Limited (Papua velop their green and sustainable businesses in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua
New Guinea), Marc-Antoine Morel from V-LAB (Vanuatu), Eliz- New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. The launch event also
abeth Kite from Isle 676 (Tonga) and Vaitulia Alatina Ioelu from opened the call for applications for the 2021 Pacific Greenpre-
Samoa Business Hub (Samoa) – and unpacked a number of similar neurs Incubator and Mentor program.
themes across the Pacific region with lessons for all enterprises,
business support providers and policymakers. Both applications close on 31st August 2021.
1. Many Pacific businesses are already ‘green enterprises’ with- The Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program will run annually
out knowing it and will offer training and mentoring for early-stage green entre-
Many panelists expressed that “Green Entrepreneurship IS the preneurs. Successful entrepreneurs in the incubator program will
Pacific way”. While they may not be familiar with terms such as have the opportunity to participate in a business competition to
‘green entrepreneurship’ or ‘social impact’, many businesses secure grant seed fund capital of USD$5,000.
across the Pacific already intentionally contribute to supporting The Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator program will be launched
the needs of their communities and land, either through their in 2022 and will target high growth potential green enterprises,
business operations or investing profits back into their commu- offering repayable grants of up to USD$50,000, investor linkages,
nities and hence creating positive impact on communities and training and mentorship.
environment. For up-to-date information on the PGEN program, Incubator,
2. Pacific entrepreneurs need access to opportunities and in- Mentor and Accelerator programs and launch event visit www.
formation, both at the early stage and beyond pacificgreenpreneurs.com and subscribe to PGEN’s mailing list.
The panel shared similar challenges in each of the five countries
represented including accessing resources - particularly funding
to grow and accessing government support and information on
business requirements. Knowing where to go to get help is cur-
rently informal and can be hard to access for new entrepreneurs.
Women and youth in particular face greater barriers to accessing
funding, training opportunities and having the confidence, cour-
age and support to pursue their dreams.

38 Islands Business, August 2021