By MARAIA VULA
As the last phase of a series of workshop on Closing the Gaps in exports got underway yesterday, organisers are hoping to have put participants on the right path of doing things.
The last of the workshops, facilitated by Warwick McCormack from Learn Fast Centre Limited from New Zealand, was held at the Forum Secretariat complex in Suva.
The workshops have been organised by the Fiji Export Council in partnership with the Fiji Development Bank.
Mr McCormack said: “This workshop is for smaller business people who are starting with smaller exporting steps so hopefully we put them along the right road so they learn the proper way to do things.”
Council Chairman Jo Taoi said: “This series of workshops is basically designed for new exporter’s also new companies basically to promote exporting into all facets of our community.
“Because it’s a series of programme, what it involves is a one to one mentoring or coaching individual companies who have demonstrated their willingness to participate.”
Council general manager Jone Cavubati said: “This is the third and final phase of a series of workshops conducted within six months designed to upskill potential companies with basic requirements to enable them to join the exporting sector in Fiji.”
Educated exporters
The council believes that an educated export workforce will be able to cultivate the needed flexibilities and enhancement to managing their supply chain.
Mr Taoi said: “It’s more capacity we believe that an educated export workforce will be able to bring about that needed flexibilities, transparency, productivity and enhancement to managing our export needs and requirements.
“We are not only trying to teach entrepreneurs or business people but we are using a model to teach their staff.”