Support for businesses
TO support business recovery in these challenging times, the Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia had launched the Packaging Support Initiative early this year.
Since then more than 18 successful businesses have received the financial rebate through the package.
This initiative was launched by the PTI Australia after their
2020 Pacific Islands Export
Survey revealed the challenges faced by Pacific businesses during the pandemic.
The report revealed that access to finance to support export activity was one of the top three barriers faced by Pacific businesses, a challenge that has only exacerbated as businesses across the region contend with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and a myriad of interrelated social and economic pressures.
As part of the initiative successful applicants are eligible for a 50 per cent rebate of their packaging costs over the 12 months prior, of a maximum of up to $A1000 ($F1502) per enterprise, which meant that eligible businesses were able to recoup up to $A500 ($F751) of their packaging costs over the last year.
PTI Australia’s general manager export, Jeremy Grennell, said the Packaging Support Initiative came at a pertinent time.
“We are so pleased to roll out Packaging Support Initiative at a time when it is crucially needed by businesses in the region.
“As Pacific SMEs simultaneously face COVID-19, inflation, and supply chain disruption, many require tangible and immediate support. The Packaging Support Initiative allows us to do just this.
“Product packaging plays a crucial role in the development of any businesses brand, as well as its sales and marketing strategies.
“Alongside serving product protection and containment purposes, packaging is one of the first physical touch-points customers have with a brand.
“Well designed and produced packaging goes a long way in attracting and retaining buyers,” Mr Grennell said.
According to PTI Australia the Packaging Support Initiative was designed to provide tangible relief to businesses in the Pacific as they face the many unprecedented pressures of the current global economic environment.
It also aims to support the growth in demand for Pacific goods and services in international markets and the long-term development of eCommerce in the Blue Pacific.
To qualify for the package all applicants must have a registered business in one of the Pacific Island Forum countries, be currently exporting to Australia or utilising eCommerce to ship globally or are an Australianbased importer importing products from a registered Pacific Island business.
Applications for PTI Australia’s Packaging Support Initiative are now open, and due to close on Friday 30 September 2022.