Pacific women entrepreneurs are being called to a workshop aimed at honing their digital business skills and unleashing their potential.
Photo: 123rf
An organiser of the 'Pacific Women in Business' workshop says in the era of Covid-19, expertise is needed when accessing markets through the online world.
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation's (PCF) Suzanne Suisuiki said the workshop aims to help Pasifika women grow their digital expertise.
Three successful Pacific business women have been engaged to mentor others, said Ms Suisuiki.
"So we're proud to have the likes of Agnes Loheni who is widely known for her fashion brand MENA.
"Then we have a young online entrepreneur Hana Schmidt and we also have on board Mary Aue who has built her business through social media," Ms Suisuiki added.
This first workshop is for Pasifika women in Auckland but Ms Suisuiki said they aim to hold future ones for others around New Zealand and the region.
The Foundation was committed to helping Pasifika women gain access to international markets with the help of the workshop said PCF's chair.
"And opportunity to work towards their aspirations in the business and entrepreneurship sectors," John Fiso added.
Meanwhile, MENA's Fonoti Agnes Loheni, who is also a member of New Zealand's parliament, said Pacific women are facing huge financial challenges due to Covid-19.
Fonoti noted that women and young people have been hardest hit with job losses.
The National Party associate spokesperson for Small Business and for Pacific Peoples said she wanted to help Pacific women develop the expertise needed to access markets via the digital world of e-commerce.
She'll share her experience of developing her own business, she added.
"And probably the biggest part is talking about the challenges we face and how we've over come them.
"And for our business MENA, having an online front, having the e-commerce side of our business that we invested in a few years ago - and I'm so glad that we did - is probably the lifesaver for our business."
The Pacific Women in Business workshop is on the 21st of September.
Registrations are via the Pacific Cooperation Foundation website or email cathryn@pcf.org.nz and they close on 10 September.
Fonoti Agnes Loheni (2nd from right) and sisters modelling her MENA fashion range Photo: MENA