Two Palagi in a Pisinisi Pod

Summary

With Dave returning after an Easter break in French Polynesia and Glen preparing for cyclone Vaianu, Two Palagi talanoa with Frank Yourn, a seasoned expert in Pacific regional business and diplomacy. Frank is Executive Director of the Australian Pacific business councils. Discover insights on Pacific trade, infrastructure, and opportunities for Australian and New Zealand businesses to thrive in the region.

Keywords

Pacific Business, Australia Pacific Relations, Pacific Infrastructure, Trade Opportunities, Frank Yourn, Pacific Islands, Business Council, Regional Development

 Key  Topics

Pacific trade and economic relations

Role of business councils in Australia and the Pacific

Opportunities in Pacific infrastructure and climate change

Engagement and collaboration between Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific nations

Titles

Unlocking Pacific Opportunities: Insights from Frank Yourn

The Future of Pacific Business with Frank Yourn

 sound bites

"Queensland is Australia's Pacific state."

"Climate change creates new business opportunities in the Pacific."

"Playing the long game is essential for success in the Pacific."

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Two Palagi

01:05 Exploring Tahiti: A Family Adventure

04:00 Economic Insights from French Polynesia

05:42 Cyclone Vaianu: Preparedness and Impact

08:20 Introducing Frank Yourn: A Pacific Business Leader

08:56 Frank Yourn's Journey in Pacific Diplomacy

16:58 Navigating Business in the Pacific

21:55 Strengthening Connections through MOUs

26:36 Emerging Business Opportunities in the Pacific

29:32 Advice for Engaging in the Pacific Market

36:38 Acknowledgement of Kanti Lal Punja

 resources

Australia Pacific Islands Business Council - www.apibc.org.au

Australia Fiji Business Council - www.afbc.org.au

Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council - apngbc.org.au

 guest links

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/frank-yourn

[email protected]

Summary

In this episode, Dave and Glen acknowledge the passing of Ratu Epeli. Glen visits the Pasifika festival on Waiheke Island and we speak about the on-going impact of fuel supply disruption.

On a positive note we cover discussion points from the South Pacific Tourism Exchange and the increasing digital connectivity across the Pacific.

For Easter Dave is travelling to Tahiti so Two Palagi in a Pisinisi Pod will take a break for the Easter week but we look forward to hear stories of Dave's travels when he's back.

• [email protected]
• Pacific Infrastructure Business Opportunity Seminars
• Home | Pacific Infrastructure Pipeline

Glen and Dave talanoa with Rachel Afeaki who, among many other things, chairs the New Zealand Tonga Business Council. Rachel recently co-led New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's mission to Samoa and Tonga. We find out what happened on the mission and whether 'Eti Fixed the Glitch'. With ongoing hostilities in the middle east upsetting world fuel supplies we also talk about how that is impacting business in the Pacific.

The New Zealand Prime Minister is about to lead a delegation to Samoa and Tonga so Dave and Glen preview that visit. Talk about what these types of missions entail, how delegates can maximise the value of being on the mission and speculate about which businesses might be along for the ride.

They also review the impact of the Iran conflict, talk about ADB's loan for improving healthcare in Fiji and revisit the Panguna mine deal in PNG.

Dave and Glen talanoa with Jesse Koorey-Slow who is currently running the Niue Development Bank and find out about life on Niue and that the NDB is doing some very interesting work to digitize their processes.

Dave talks with Chris Saili and Janina Wetzel about the journey of building a business in the Pacific, the challenges and opportunities in the region, the role of partnerships and growth, the ADB Frontier Seed Program, the Moana Data Services business model, data accessibility and infrastructure in the Pacific, and advice for doing business in the region. Key takeaways include the importance of community collaboration and the need for data accessibility in the Pacific.

Takeaways

• Community Collaboration
• Data Accessibility

Chapters

• 00:00 Building a Business in the Pacific
• 20:48 The ADB Frontier Seed Program
• 27:58 Moana Data Services Business Model
• 37:17 Advice for Doing Business in the Pacific

With the president of Asia Development Bank traveling throughout the Pacific this week Dave and Glen take the opportunity to talk about the work of the ADB. Looking at some of this week's announcements including the opening of a new ADB office in the Solomon Islands and also discussing broad developments of how the ADB finds projects across the Pacific region. How should business engage?

In this engaging conversation, Sir Ewan Smith shares his journey in the aviation industry, detailing the challenges and innovations he faced while establishing and running an airline in the Cook Islands. He discusses the critical role of air access in supporting tourism, the impact of COVID-19 on his business, and the importance of community and local talent in sustaining operations. Ewan also reflects on the future of tourism in the Cook Islands, emphasizing the need for balance and stewardship in the industry. His insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and highlight the unique opportunities within the Pacific Islands.

Glen and Dave discuss various themes surrounding Pacific business, including community celebrations for Waitangi Day, the impact of the late Sanjesh Prasad on the Vision Group, tourism opportunities in Fiji and Palau, updates on the banking sector, infrastructure developments, mining prospects in Bougainville, and the growth of the kava industry.

Takeaways

Waitangi Day celebrations foster community spirit and connection.

Sanjesh Prasad's legacy will continue through the Vision Group.

Tourism is a vital economic driver in the Pacific.

Deflation can have negative impacts on economic growth.

Infrastructure events provide networking opportunities for businesses.

The kava industry is experiencing significant growth in Fiji.

Mining developments in Bougainville could reshape the local economy.

Sound bites

"It's a beautiful space with community feel."

"The legacy will continue of the Vision Group."

"Deflation is not necessarily a good thing."

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Waitangi Day Across the Pacific

05:56 Honoring Legacy: The Vision Group and Its Impact

08:26 Tourism Trends and Insights from Fiji

16:38 Banking Sector Updates and Economic Reflections

21:25 Infrastructure Developments and Opportunities

29:14 The Rise of Kava: A Growing Industry in Fiji

Disclaimer

Dave and Glen both have day jobs with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and want to make sure listeners know that any views or opinions they express are personal and do not reflect the position of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

In this episode Dave and Glen talk Pacific tourism, through their talanoa with Jenny Seeto who chaired the recent Fiji Tourism Summit. They also talk about Jenny's career and about the key ingredients of Fiji's tourism success: collaboration and connectivity in the tourism industry, outcomes and next steps for Fiji's tourism industry, future initiatives and trends in Fiji's tourism industry, and business community engagement and opportunities in Fiji.

Takeaways

• Pacific tourism growth
• Impact of tourism on the Pacific economy

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Pacific Tourism Growth
• 07:21 Fiji's Tourism Industry and Land Lease Payments
• 23:39 Collaboration and Connectivity in the Tourism Industry
• 29:24 Outcomes and Next Steps for Fiji's Tourism Industry
• 40:44 Business Community Engagement and Opportunities in Fiji