businesses

Despite this, Pacific businesses continue to adapt; an increasing number have scaled back operations, with fully operational female-led businesses decreasing to 23 per cent (down from 29 percent during Survey 4 of the PTI Pacific Business Monitor), and partially operational businesses increasing from 29 per cent to 41 per cent.

Commenting on the Survey 5 findings, PTI Australia Trade & Investment Commissioner Caleb Jarvis noted that the pandemic is biting hard for all businesses – particularly those led by women.

New Zealand-born Samoan business woman, Tofilau Esther Tofilau Tevaga, was speaking at the Samoa Business Network's first gathering of the year.

Tofilau said jealousy was a big hindrance to growing business in Samoa but she said sharing ideas would be the key to success.

"You got to really hustle and I think I've failed a few times, but in business you learn and sometimes I've learnt that people in the Pacific, we have a big heart and we always give from our heart."

Yasaki, which operated in Samoa for 25 years, closed its doors earlier this year, putting hundreds of people out of work.

Two companies with links to New Zealand, Sleepwell and Fero, will initially employ just a few dozen people but both plan to quickly develop, with a total of 900 jobs promised by 2022.

The prime minister says the government is hoping there will be other companies coming in.

The popular destination for people to buy handicrafts, garments and food, was completely gutted by a blaze on Saturday.

The president of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters, Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, says it's likely many of the stall owners will have lost all their stock in the fire.