As part of Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia’s Digital Trade program, PTI Australia will be hosting their first E-Commerce Workshop in Apia on Wednesday, 10 October.
The workshop is being delivered in partnership with the Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc.
E-commerce, buying or selling products and services using the internet opens exciting opportunities for businesses in Samoa to connect with international markets and is becoming an important way for businesses in the Pacific Islands to trade with the rest of world. Lemauga Hobart Vaai, Chief Executive Officer, Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc said PTI Austalia’s E-Commerce Workshop was a great opportunity for businesses to gain better understanding of e-commerce and how it works.
“Over the last few years there’s been a real shift in the trade sector with online platforms making it easier for businesses in Samoa to connect with international buyers. It’s important that our exporters look at how online channels fit into their business strategy. This workshop will help businesses to understand how e-commerce might fit with their strategy. I’m thrilled PTI Australia are bringing over an Amazon expert, Peter Nobbs from Coach AMZ. Amazon is such a large platform, for a business in the Pacific it can be pretty daunting to understand where to start to list on Amazon. So to have this opportunity to learn from Peter and PTI Australia will be really beneficial for our exporters.
PTI Australia’s General Manager- Exports Jeremey Grennell said that although businesses in Samoa and the Pacific had to contend with high trade costs due to geographic remoteness, platforms like Amazon Marketplace significantly lowered the barriers to entry.
“Our recent Pacific Islands Export Survey found that only 36 per cent of exporters in the Pacific have their own website, platforms like Amazon provide a great entry point for businesses in Samoa looking to reach international markets.
“With the launch of Amazon Australia’s market place we can see the potential for this platform to drive exports for Samoa. That’s why as part of PTI Australia’s Digital Trade program we know it’s important to bring to Samoa experts that can add real value and empower businesses in Samoa with the tools to succeed.”
PTI Australia’s E-Commerce Workshop is being held in the margins of PTI Australia’s Business Mission to Samoa that runs from Tuesday 9 – Friday 12 October. The mission is being led by PTI Australia’s Trade & Investment Commissioner, Caleb Jarvis in partnership with with the Samoa High Commission to Australia. PTI Australia is bringing to Samoa a delegation of buyers, impact investors, Pacific diaspora and labour mobility executives with the aim of deepening the delegations understanding of the Samoa market and creating connections between the Australian delegation and the private and public sector in Samoa to create positive tangible outcomes.
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