NEW ZEALAND – A number of businesses from around the Pacific region are in Auckland creating partnerships to try to help them break into the New Zealand market.

The 28 businesses are being assisted by Pacific Trade and Invest which helps market developing Pacific businesses across international markets.

The businesses took part in a marketing and trade mission programme which included the opportunity to promote their products at Auckland’s Pasifika festival over the weekend.

Fijian business operator Rosalito Sereicocoko from Aswhy Enterprises used the opportunity to promote Fiji’s unique mahogany and other indigenous woods for export.

“Well this is my first time in see New Zealand and I saw that there were opportunities, apart from our usual American and the France market, I see that there are other opportunities for us to build relationships in the Pacific.”

Masa Kawaguchi exports seaweed products from his seafood business in Tonga and he brought his company’s latest product, seafood jerky, to promote at Pasifika for the first time.

“We’re getting a lot of good feedback especially last couple of days from people who have tried our products, so the next step is trying to get our product here in New Zealand.”

Sandrine Wallez from Vanuatu’s chocolate making company Aelan says she is hopeful that Aelan will be able to distribute more products in the New Zealand market.

“We’re really expecting that people will really welcome the Vanuatu product. So next week we already have some meetings organised with some of the key distributors in New Zealand to try to see if our product can be proposed on the shelves for the New Zealander.”

From Tonga, Jessica Afeaki’s fragrant coconut oil was made famous by Olympic athlete Pita Taufatofua when he used it for the opening ceremony in Rio last year

Her company, Kenani Estate, has created the only moisturising creams ever to be exported from Tonga. She shares the reactions she received over the weekend from people towards her products.

“Everyone’s pretty surprised, moisturisers made in Tonga, balms and coconut oils all infused made in Tonga but I love the reaction.”

Jemi Nashon from the Marshall Islands and Tarita Holm from Palau travelled the farthest from within the region to promote their products for the first time in New Zealand.

Holm says she never thought she’d have the chance to promote her products this far away from her home. “Even now that I’m sitting here I can’t believe that I’m actually here because of this little company that we started out of our house. I never thought it would come to this.”

Pacific Trade and Invest focuses on investment and trade facilitation and tourism promotion with members of the Pacific Island Forum.

Trade development manager Joe Fuavao says the organisation’s trade mission programme which took place over the last four days has been the biggest so far.

“This is the largest group we have certainly done for years. 28 companies from eight different countries is a huge logistical project.”

He says the Pacific Path to Market Trade Mission program helps small business enterprises from around the region to make significant connections for their businesses.

“They’ll met CEO’s of distributing companies, they’ll meet supermarkets, something that’s difficult to get access to if they came on their own. So through Pacific Island Trade and Invest and a trade program such as this, they’re able to access a wide range of commercial people in one go.”

Fuavao says the programme not only gives Pacific business operators an opportunity to break into markets outside of the Pacific, but it also opens doors for trade partnerships within the region as well. - RNZI