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PRESS RELEASE

The idea of convenient shopping has a new meaning with Pacific40 Limited launching its Talofa Voucher project in partnership with Ah Liki Wholesale Limited.

The tech company born out of The Pacific Business Hub and supported by the Samoa Business Network has established an e-commerce platform that allows customers in NZ and around the world with online banking/credit or debit card access to buy a shopping voucher for their family in Samoa.

What is unique about the concept is that the person buying the voucher will select the shop that is closer to where their family reside to redeem their Talofa Voucher. This means customers do not have to travel to Apia or Salelologa to redeem their vouchers but can do their shopping at a partner store that is closer to where they live. This will save money on transport and allow customers longer opening hours as most shops in villages are open until 10 or 11 o’clock at night.

“We are launching Talofa Voucher with the 4 Farmer Joe Supermarkets in Upolu to start with and then
hopefully expand to other retail stores around Upolu and Savaii,” said Falute Vaauli-Lene, Director and
Operations Manager of Pacific40 Limited.

She went on to acknowledge that the concept was only possible with a fully established retail infrastructure around Samoa and that is where the partnership with Ah Liki Wholesale Limited was important. Ah Liki Wholesale Limited has a strong network of retail shops around Samoa through their wholesale business and it is a vital component for the Talofa Voucher shopping experience.

“Ah Liki Wholesale Limited welcomes the opportunity to work with Pacific40 through the Talofa Voucher service as it will allow retail shops in Samoa access to customers in NZ and around the world to help drive sales” said Taimalieutu Charlie Westerlund owner of Ah Liki Investment Limited.

Talofa Voucher is now available for purchase to customers in NZ and around the world with voucher redemption at Farmer Joe Fugalei, Famer Joe Magi at Siusega, Farmer Joe at Vaitele Tai and Farmer Joe Aita at Saleimoa. For more information customers can visit Pacifi40 Limited Facebook page or their website at www.pacific40.com

Business Link Pacific (BLP) will officially launch the Business Link Pacific Portal on 1 and 2 August 2019 in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

The Business Link Pacific Portal is an innovative online platform designed to connect quality business advisors with
small and medium-sized growing businesses in the Pacific.

To mark the launch of the Portal, Business Link Pacific are co-hosting four launch events, one in each country, which are open to small and medium sized businesses and free to attend.

“We’re very excited to be launching the BLP Portal as the place for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to
find quality business advice across the Pacific region”, says Steve Knapp, Director of Business Link Pacific.

Each launch event will be opened by the respective New Zealand High Commission or by Business Link Pacific.

Following that will be a series of high impact presentations from industry experts on topical issues for small and medium sized businesses, demonstrations of the BLP Portal and concluding with an informal networking session.

Since the launch events were announced on BLP social media sites on July 15, interest for all events has been high and has also garnered local media coverage across all countries. Organisers are expecting up to 800 businesses in attendance across the four countries, a great opportunity for networking and business development.

“We designed the BLP Portal to promote the high quality business services available in Pacific Island Countries, and to make the process of accessing expert business advice as streamlined as possible for growing businesses and business advisors,” explains Mr. Knapp.

The Portal has beneficial services to both growing businesses and business advisors.

For small and medium sized businesses, the Portal offers a free Business Health Check that identifies business gaps and connects them to a wide range of business service providers that are quality approved by BLP, services that can be accessed at a subsidised rate.

For Business Advisors, the Portal offers a marketing tool to engage and provide financial benefits to eligible clients, as well as organisational and business development support from technical consultants.

BLP are encouraging growing businesses in all four countries to attend their respective launch event, registration is essential and attendance is free. Details for each BLP Portal Launch event are as follows:

• Vanuatu on Thursday 1 August at the Vanuatu Convention Centre, 3pm-5pm (VUT). Visit this event to see full details and to register your attendance.
• Samoa on Friday 2 August, 2pm-6pm (WST) at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel. Visit this event to see full details and to register your attendance.
• Fiji on Friday 2 August 2019, 2pm-6pm (FJT) at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus. Visit this event to see full details and to register your attendance.
• Papua New Guinea on Friday 2 August 2019, 6pm-9pm (Papua New Guinea Standard Time) at Port Moresby International Convention Centre. Visit this event to see full details and to register your attendance.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Sandra Mendez, Head of Communications &
Impact at Business Link Pacific on sandra.mendez@businesslinkpacific.com

Business Link Pacific is a private sector development programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The core team is based in Auckland, New Zealand and supported by in-country partners in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa & Papua New Guinea. The BLP programme is currently operating in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, with plans to extend services to other Pacific Islands.

Reliable business advice can have a significant positive impact on small or medium sized businesses, as demonstrated through the experiences of many across the Pacific region that have already worked with the BLP Advisor Network.

Business Link Pacific’s role is to connect small and medium sized businesses in the Pacific to local advisory services, which in turn stimulates a sustainable local market for business advice.

Launch event organisers
The Launch event in each country is being coordinated by the BLP team based in Auckland, New Zealand, in
partnership with our in-country partners:

• In Vanuatu: Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VCCI) and Savvy Vanuatu.
• In Samoa: Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) and Events, Marketing & Distribution (EMD).
• In Papua New Guinea: Strategic Communication aka PNG SME Magazine.
• In Fiji: Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) and Webmedia South Pacific.

PRESS RELEASE