Annual Retreat and Policy Planning Workshop sets course for Vanuatu’s Business Development
February 13, 2024 11:41 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Sabrina Tabi.
The Office of the Registrar of Cooperatives and Business Development Services (ORCBDS), operating under the Ministry of Trade and Commerce (MoTC), officially began its 1-week Annual Retreat and Policy Planning Workshop at Erakor Island Resort yesterday.
The event, a cornerstone of the department’s yearly agenda, serves as a platform for evaluating past performance, aligning strategies with government policies, and charting the course for the upcoming year.
According to Joe Iauko, Director of the Department of Co-operative, the workshop is a crucial opportunity to assess the performance of provincial staff and review the implementation of previous business plans across the provinces.
“It’s not only about reviewing our past performance but also about planning our future endeavours,” Mr. Iauko emphasised.
Central to the discussions at this year’s workshop is the alignment of strategies with key government policies, particularly the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) reviewed last year.
Mr. Iauko stressed the importance of synchronizing the Co-operative’s business plans and national co-operative policies with the goals outlined in the NSDP, especially considering the department’s responsibility for implementing the Social and Economic Pillar of the plan.
The workshop also aims to foster collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Industry, Customs and Inland Revenue, Vanuatu Intellectual Property Office (VanIPO), and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV). Representatives from these entities will join the workshop later this week to present policies and facilitate alignment of activities.
Over 30 participants, including Co-operative Managers and Administration Officers from the six provinces, are actively engaged in the workshop.
By its conclusion, the department hopes to consolidate last year’s annual report for government submission as mandated by the Co-operative Society Act.
Furthermore, the workshop seeks to provide a clear direction for the department’s work in the coming year, aiding staff in developing annual work plans for each province.
Additionally, each province is tasked with crafting its own Co-operative Provincial Development Plan, addressing critical issues of connectivity and costs.
Given Vanuatu’s geographical challenges, particularly its 83 islands, addressing connectivity issues through co-operatives is a top priority.
Strategically locating co-operatives to facilitate domestic trade between islands is one proposed solution, as explained by the Director.
Furthermore, collaborating with Area Councils to improve access to goods and services in rural areas is highlighted as a means to bridge the urban-rural divide.
As discussions continue at the retreat, stakeholders are optimistic about the outcomes and the potential for meaningful progress towards Vanuatu’s economic development goals.
