Entrepreneurs’ Enlightened On Green Recovery Planning Workshop
Around 20 Small and Micro Entrepreneurs (SMEs), were enlightened with the Green Recovery Planning workshop held at Holiday Inn, Suva yesterday. The green recovery refers to the opportunity for government, business and society to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, in a way that is environmentally and socially sustainable.
Facilitator, Josua Mateiwai said: “With the impact of COVID19 to businesses in Fiji, our entrepreneurs and owners are much more than just in the survival mode, but are into the recovery phase and planning how the new era will look like.”
Mr Mateiwai said it was during the business recovery and planning phase, business owners had to re-look at their current business model.
“They have to implement changes usually represented by modifications, re-designing, alternative building blocks or creation of an entirely new and innovative model.”
Fijian businesses, he said were going through this phase, incorporating fundamentals of green business models is timely and fitting. Mr Mateiwai said a green business model is one which able to both capture economic value, and reduces the ecological footprint at the same time. There are two general ways for a green business, which is by selling green products or services, and greening of the business processes through out the business value chain, he said.
“The greening of the processes includes the processes within a business and also outside the business and other parts of the value chain.” He said these entrepreneurs were looking for ways in order to pivot and go into new businesses models, and the process of trying to look into new ideas, and being innovative in changing.
“What we are doing in this workshop is try to make them take into account the green business principles that they could implement in their business during this trying times. “What I feel for these businesses is that, at the end of the day its two things; on how they can reduce their cost, and how they can make money,” Mr Mateiwai said
There were models briefly covered in the workshop which includes;
■gree■ supply agement,
■take back management,
■crad●e to cradle,
■i■dustria● symbiosis,
■product service system,
■fu■ctio■a● sales, and othchain maners.
Michael Mausio from House of Mausio said, the workshop was an eye opener for him.
“It was quite informative, and a lot of networking with other businesses that were present.
“Businesses are sharing the struggle we go through, and the potential that are out there,” Mr Mausio said.
“I’m happy to be here just to gain more knowledge on the green business recovery and how we can improve on our business.
“The workshop has been great, and ideas are bouncing from these businesses.
“Some businesses are tively connecting during discussion.”
The workshop was organised by Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) in partnership with Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council and USAID Ready.
Topics covered include;
acthe
■Defi■e Green
Planning (GRP)
■Re●eva■ce of GRP
■GRP, What, Why and How
■Busi■ess model components
■Four steps towards a more sustainable profitable enterprise, and
■Ta●a■oa session
Recovery