PNG-Fiji Business Council aims to help SMEs enter new markets

The newly established Papua New Guinea-Fiji Business Council will help small businesses in PNG and Fiji find new markets, business partners and opportunities in both countries.

The council held its first membership event at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby last night.

Sir Mahesh Patel, OBE, founder and Chairman Emeritus of CPL Group, said the idea came after discussions with the Fiji High Commission and Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister during his visit to PNG.

He said the main purpose of the council was to connect businesses from the two countries.

“The idea was to ask how we can encourage businesses to talk to each other,” Sir Mahesh said.

He said many small businesses in PNG wanted to enter the Fiji market but did not know where to start.

“There's a lot of SMEs that we support through CPL. They always say, How can we enter the Fiji market, or how can we get business from there?" he said.

Sir Mahesh said the council would create a database of businesses in PNG and Fiji.

“We don't want to have conferences and meetings. We want to create a database so if a person wants to do business in Fiji, or from Fiji to Papua New Guinea, they can say, ‘I'm in this industry, can I go and talk to that person?" he said.

“Our council will be there to network with the people and connect the people. That's the main aim.”

Sir Mahesh emphasised that the main focus of the council would be small and medium-sized businesses.

“I think my target is the SMEs. Corporates can find out where to go. The SMEs should try and contact us,” he said.

He said large companies usually had the money and resources to find new markets, but small businesses often needed help.

“Big corporates can go their own ways and expand businesses, but it's only those small businesses that find it difficult to reach the market that will be assisted through this council,” he said.

He encouraged SMEs with business ideas to contact the council.

“If they want to have business ideas, if they want to go to Fiji, contact us and let's see if we can help them. Our aim is to be the bridge between the two countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sir Mahesh said there were many opportunities for PNG businesses to sell their products in Fiji.

He pointed to agriculture as one example.

“People in Fiji say, when they come to visit Papua New Guinea, our fruits and vegetables are so good. They say, ‘How can we export?’ So again, there's a market there,” he said.

However, he said businesses would need to work together to collect products and arrange transport and cold storage.

“It's a long process. We need transportation, cold storage,” he said.

He also pointed to young PNG entrepreneurs making skincare and hair products.

“There's a lot of young people now developing skincare or hair products in Papua New Guinea. So how can we sell that to Fiji to stop them importing it?” he said.

The president of the council and Chief Operating Officer of MRDC Vele Rupa said the establishment of the council was an important step for both countries.

“This is a huge step ahead, not only for the two nations in business, but most importantly in strengthening the existing relationship,” he said.

Sir Mahesh said the council was only starting its journey, but he believed it could make a difference for small businesses in both countries.

“The journey is long, but we're starting something and it will definitely go a long way in helping the little people from both countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PNG-Fiji Business Council was established in April 2026. It is open to businesses of different sizes and industries in PNG and Fiji.

The council hopes to help businesses from both countries connect, share ideas, form partnerships and find new markets.