by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
A regional workshop on trade and investment has been held in Fiji by the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO). The workshop was focused on trade and investment concerning women, and how greatly they are affected with the business fees they pay to get their operations started.
While empowering women to venture into business activities, high business fees are the one thing that contribute to the rundown of business operations. Thus, resulting in business shutdown.
According to Mereia Volavola, CEO for PIPSO, “the problem is because our (business) laws and fees are outdated and have not caught up with the reality that businesses can be operated online, via the internet.”
These outdated laws are making women pay more in municipal fees and licenses. More discussion erupted on this problem, with the workshop concluding with targets to execute measurable policies to improve and support the inclusion of more women into business.
