The first EU-Pacific Business Forum convened in Nadi on 4–5 September, drawing together government officials, business leaders, and development partners to explore new avenues of trade and investment between the two regions.
Over two days, the Forum featured panel discussions, networking events, and direct business-to-business and business-to-government meetings. Sessions covered a wide spectrum of priorities — from renewable energy and climate resilience to sustainable aquaculture, port development, tourism, and digital infrastructure — underscoring the shared aspirations of Europe and the Pacific to strengthen ties in the Blue Pacific economy.
One of the most dynamic exchanges came during a breakout session on “E-commerce and Digitally Delivered Services,” moderated by Andrea Ibba, Pacific E-commerce Coordinator at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The conversation delved into the realities Pacific entrepreneurs face when entering the digital economy. Ulisese Rimoni, Fair-trading Officer at Samoa’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Brett Baudinet, founder of Cook Islands-based SmartieApp; and Aurore Klepper, Director of French Tech Nouvelle-Calédonie, each shared perspectives on both the barriers and the potential of e-commerce in the region.
Among the challenges highlighted were infrastructure gaps, regulatory delays, payment obstacles, and shortages of digital skills. Yet, the panellists also pointed to concrete opportunities — from policy alignment and EU partnerships to targeted support for start-ups.
A call for practical solutions
Key proposals from the session included establishing a Pacific digital trade legal partnership to boost payments, skills, and consumer trust; creating direct funding mechanisms for digital projects without multiple intermediaries; fast-tracking regulatory frameworks to give businesses clearer ground rules; and forging stronger ties with EU firms to access specialised technical expertise.
Other ideas raised were exploring open banking to drive fintech innovation and investing in the social and cultural aspects of entrepreneurship to keep talent anchored in Pacific communities.
Ibba reminded participants that many of these requests resonate with the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap, endorsed by Forum Trade Ministers in 2021. That roadmap is being advanced through the Pacific E-commerce Initiative, which provides the region with a structured governance framework — including the Pacific E-commerce Committee, its Private Sector and Development Partners Sub-committees, and the Pacific E-commerce Alliance.
He also underlined the importance of the supporting systems: “Workshops and panels are valuable, but what businesses are asking for is action. The Pacific E-commerce Initiative, with its governance and knowledge platforms, is already in place. What we need are partners who are ready to contribute, whether through finance, technology, or capacity building.”
Linking business to regional frameworks
The Initiative, Ibba noted, is backed by a monitoring and evaluation system as well as the Pacific E-commerce Portal — a regional public good that provides data, resources, and training materials for both government and private sector use.
By weaving together the experiences of businesses with existing regional strategies, the Forum highlighted how EU-Pacific cooperation in the digital economy can become more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to real-world needs.
As the Forum closed, the message was clear: the Pacific is not just seeking dialogue but tangible partnerships that can help the region take its next leap in digital trade.
