In this new COVID world, the need for digital connection and online presence has never been greater. As all nations navigate a new normal, both businesses and consumers have accelerated their participation in ‘digital’ so they can continue to connect, work, learn, and exchanging goods and services.
According to the COVID-19 and E-Commerce: A Global Review by United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and eTrade report, consumers in emerging and developing economies have made the greatest shift to online shopping, leading to enormous opportunity for the same regions to be producers in the e-economy.
Digital has been an important focus and recognising the acceleration of this shift, PTI Australia engaged the Pacific private sector through ongoing conversation and data collection, to identify the genuine gaps and digital needs of the region.
The PTI Network’s Pacific Business Monitor 2020 Report revealed that improving and implementing online capabilities was the third highest priority for businesses looking to action initiatives that would support their business, with nearly a third seeking support to sell online.
Similarly, PTI Australia’s Biennial Pacific Islands Export Survey, which collected data prior to the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, found that 74 per cent of exporters generate revenue through online channels. Of those who do not use online channels to generate revenue, a third cite lack of skills or expertise as the reason.
Armed with this robust feedback, the PTI Australia team has set about closing the digital divide by equipping businesses with Pacific-centric digital development tools and skills, so the region can keep up with and exceed the new global standard of digital experiences.
Earlier in the year, the inaugural Pacific cohort were selected and took part in PTI Australia’s Social Media for e-Business Professional Development Scholarship program. Building on the successful one-day PTI Australia Social Media Masterclasses, the six-week course extends the practical skills of participants, enabling them to effectively use social media to grow their business. The next cohort of business leaders in Niue, the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands are set to participate at the end of June.
More recently, PTI Australia announced a new partnership with online graphic design platform Canva, providing tailored training and scholarships for Pacific businesses to access the Canva Pro platform. The PTI Australia X Canva collaboration is the first of its kind in the Pacific, connecting the simplicity of Canva’s design platform to businesses across the Pacific region through PTI Australia’s network.
Cath Cooksley-Little, PTI Australia’s General Manager of Marketing, Communications & Tourism, said the collaboration matches capacity building with ongoing access to world-class tools.
“Unlike other design options, Canva provides an easy and cost-effective solution to empower businesses in the Pacific that don’t have the resources or funds to access traditional design expertise. I’m genuinely excited at the impact our partnership with Canva will have, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to compete more effectively on an international stage against international brands.”
For Canva, the opportunity to partner with an organisation with a similar mission to create positive outcomes for people in the Pacific was important.
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Pacific Trade Invest Australia to provide small businesses with free access to Canva Pro. The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on millions of small businesses around the world. We’ve seen a huge number of these businesses embracing Canva over the last year, to shift their bricks-and-mortar operations to an online environment while expanding their marketing and digital presence to keep up with the changing world we’re seeing,” said Zach Kitschke, Canva’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Complementing PTI Australia’s ongoing Digital Tourism program and the Trade e-Commerce Connector series, the Canva Digital Design program has received excellent uptake and feedback from the region’s trade and tourism industries.
Lasarusa Saqusaqu, Digital Marketing Associate at South Pacific Tourism Organisation, said the collaboration is much needed for the many teams behind promoting Pacific destinations.
“I have been using Canva Pro over the last few months and it has been really awesome and easy. There are so many designs to work with and the only thing that can hold you back is your own imagination. I am so excited that PTI Australia is providing this opportunity to Pacific businesses.”
The first Pacific Workshop was delivered by PTI Australia’s Communications Manager, Matisse Walkden-Brown, and is available to watch here. All Pacific businesses are welcome to apply to be part of PTI Australia’s X Canva Digital Design Program here.
