Women and Business in the Pacific

WOMEN AND BUSINESS IN THE PACIFIC

AUGUST

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Ana File-Heather Ana opened an after-hours garment printing shop in her home in 2013, which she expanded to a tiny shop 2 years later after leaving her day job. Identifying a gap in the market for youth apparel, she expanded to stock global brands, before moving on to start her own streetwear label. Her shop has since grown to five times its original size. Ana recently opened the Cook Islands' first local brands surf shop. She now employs five people, including four young women. (Photo by Ana File Heather)

Vitila Vuniwaqa Vitila owns an organic farm in Nadi, Fiji producing honey, cassava, watermelon, papaya, and other seasonal fruits. She started the farm in 2015 after recovering from a stroke, which ended her career as a flight attendant and left her physically challenged. She now employs two people and is producing a natural moisturizing cream using her honey and beeswax, which is sold at local markets and the airport. (Photo by Lavenia Koimaitotoya)

Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai Fiti is the founder and chief executive o cer of Samoa's largest books and stationary chain, which she established in 2008 following a career in law and academia and after identifying a need for an educational products retailer in Samoa. She now has seven stores, including one each in American Samoa and New Zealand. Fiti is also the author of five children's books written in Samoan and English and a supporter of a variety of philanthropic initiatives supporting literacy. (Photo by Jody Toleafoa)

Ann Josephine Johnston Josie drew on her experience running her mother's grocery shop when she opened a small menswear shop in Apia in 2003 with a loan from the bank. She opened the shop after noticing a gap in the market for brand-name men's clothing suited to Samoa's weather, which she was able to fill by becoming a licensed retailer for popular surf brands, thereby guaranteeing authenticity and supply. Josie now owns two clothing and accessory shops and employs five full-time sta , including three women. (Photo by Ann Josephine Johnston)

Hellen Saera Hilli Hellen established a tailoring and clothing repair shop in Honiara, Solomon Islands, which she later expanded into a sewing school, training others to establish their own tailoring businesses. Her daughter has since taken over management of the school as Hellen has moved to her home province to establish a cocoa farming and exporting business. (Photo by Katherine Passmore)

Dennyse Maki Dennyse is a traditional costume designer and make-up artist for events. She has kept this business alive despite becoming a full-time veterinary student, and recently started a small-scale piggery. She hopes to apply her veterinary qualification in Vanuatu's livestock export market to see international standards met and to increase the export of organic livestock products. (Photo by Starlight Photography)

Women and business in the pacific

AUGUST 2018

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

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Contents

Tables, Figures, and Boxes

iv

Forewordsviii

Acknowledgmentsxi

Abbreviationsxii

Introduction1

A Framework for Empowering Women into Business

4

Fiji56

Kiribati95

Papua New Guinea

127

Samoa169

Solomon Islands

208

Tonga247

Vanuatu281

Appendixes

319

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