Pacific Business Strengthening

ABV works in The Pacific developing the private sector through supporting small businesses. During times of global economic difficulty and in the face of the accelerated impacts of climate change on Pacific Island Nations, ABV's approach is more important than ever.

Pacific communities need more small businesses – they are vital to national development. ABV's tried and tested model is uniquely building people-to-people human capability through business skills.

Apeketon Business Hub currently exhibiting at The PNG Resource Week: CANCONEX

Read stories about our work at the Apeketon Business Hub here

Business Spotlight from Apeketon Business Hub: Kay Galamo, Lamatlik Investment Limited

Rhod McDonald, ABV Volunteer, Henry Ume-Taule, Apeketon Business Hub Manager, Anzac Vuia, Apeketon Business Hub Trainer and Benjamin Buweguz from Buweguz Holding Limited.

Enhancing Business Success Through Good Governance: Lessons from Lihir Island

Volunteers in Lihir - Bea and Gavin

How and Where We Work

Our unique model understands that Pacific island economies rely on grassroots entrepreneurs who build and sustain businesses that ultimately support the well-being of that community's families and locals.

YES PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND SAMOA

In partnership with BSP Financial Group Ltd, YES is targeted to build the business skills of existing and emerging business owners.

YES is an expertly developed business program delivering the fundamentals of business from business modelling and strategic planning to risk analysis, finance, people management, marketing and pricing strategies, customer service and occupational health and safety.  

FIJI THRIVE

Micro, small and medium-sized businesses play a vital role in Fiji's economy by contributing to the overall wellbeing of the communities in which they operate.

Part of ABV's wider YES Program, In partnership with BSP Financial Group (Fiji), ABV provides long-term, personalised support to these businesses, which includes practical training, coaching and mentoring from ABV's volunteer network.

APEKETON BUSINESS HUB

The Apeketon Business Hub (ABH) is designed and delivered by Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) in partnership with Lihir Gold Limited (a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation).

The business hub provides a holistic service, driven by and for the Lihirian community, supporting inclusive and sustainable economic development at all levels from individual households through to businesses of all sizes as well as landholder organisational strengthening.

NAURU PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

Part of our 4-year partnership with the Nauru Chamber of Commerce (NCC), ABV provides skilled business professionals to support a range of locally-led private sector strengthening initiatives. These include establishing the NCC Business Hub, a holistic service for small businesses providing practical training, coaching and mentoring. Our expert volunteers also provide strategic support to key priorities under the Roadmap.

Your Enterprise Scheme (YES)

Targeted to build the business skills of existing and emerging business owners, YES is an expertly developed business program delivering the fundamentals of business from business modelling and strategic planning to risk analysis, finance, people management, marketing and pricing strategies, customer service and occupational health and safety.  

Better Business Governance (BBG) Program

Targeted at company owners and directors, BBG covers the principles of good corporate governance, organisational structures and the duties of Executives. BBG is designed to assist participants in becoming responsible and effective in their roles through one-on-one mentoring tailored to suit individual and business needs from startups to established organisations.

Family Money Management Program (FMMP)

ABV has designed this program in response to an identified need for families to strengthen skills in managing household cash-flows, planning and saving for the future, making decisions about financial products and seeking advice about money and finance. 

Recent Updates and Stories

Stay up-to-date with the latest events and news

29 July 2026

THRIVE Program Surpasses 200 Local Business Graduates

Bank of South Pacific and Australian Business Volunteers are celebrating a significant milestone with their joint local business development program surpassing 200 graduates since its launch in March 2023. Known as the Fiji THRIVE, the program served its latest cohort of 27 local entrepreneurs in Sigatoka where participants completed personalised mentoring, practical workshops and networking […]

29 July 2026

Stronger Businesses, Stronger Communities: Mt Hagen PNG

The BSP-ABV partnership continues to go from strength to strength, as we support the roll out of BSP’s Business Bank creating more opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises through our co-designed capability development program, YES GROW. Indeed, the energy in Mt Hagen, PNG is firing with another impactful YES GROW training cycle, this time strengthening […]

28 May 2026

ABV at the 41st Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum

Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) was proud to participate in the 41st Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum, held in Brisbane—an important platform for advancing inclusive growth across the region. ABV representatives David Faulmann and CEO Liz Mackinlay joined leaders from government, finance and industry to explore how partnerships can unlock opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Papua New […]

12 May 2026

Building stronger SMEs in Lae, PNG

The YES (Your Enterprise Scheme) GROW Business Development Program, delivered in partnership with BSP Financial Group Limited, is underway in Lae—bringing together 18 local businesses from sectors including agriculture, construction, electrical, transport and retail. This cohort joins more than 600 small businesses across the Pacific Islands region that have taken part in YES GROW since the program began seven […]

9 February 2026

Over six hundred Pacific businesses strengthened through ABV-BSP corporate partnership

A total of 604 small businesses across the Pacific Islands region, including 402 in Papua New Guinea, have now been supported through a seven-year partnership between BSP Financial Group Limited and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) to strengthen MSMEs and local economies. The milestone was marked on the evening of Wednesday, the 4th of Februrary, with the graduation of 19 Papua New Guinean entrepreneurs who successfully completed the six-month business development program, […]

8 July 2025

ABV and BSP honoured to present at the Fiji Indigenous Business Council Symposium 2025

On Wednesday, 28 May, the Fiji Indigenous Business Council (FIBC) proudly opened its 2025 Symposium at the Novotel Convention Centre in Lami under the theme: "Networking: Creating & Sustaining Our Future in Business." The event commenced with powerful and encouraging remarks by our chief guest Hon. Viliame Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism […]

21 May 2025

NWV2025: Meet Vera Pajovic - Championing Community-led Tourism in Nauru

Raised with an ethos of providing a helping hand to your neighbour, joining Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) in 2023 to volunteer with communities in Nauru was in some ways simply common sense for Sydney local, Vera Pajovic. “Maxine Wiggs, a wonderful lady I used to work with in the travel industry reached out to me […]

22 April 2025

Empowering Women Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea

As part of ABV’s mission to build inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the region, we are proud to partner with City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) Foundation Inc. to mentor six women trailblazing local entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea. Along with developing successful women-led businesses, these entrepreneurs are offering innovative market solutions to preserve language, foster […]

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