latest news
Vanuatu
P&O Cruises Helps Make Island Life a Breeze
eGlobal Travel News 19 Aug 2010 - Cruise passengers have another great reason to visit Vanuatu’s Mystery Island thanks to a helping hand from P&O Cruises with the funding of a much-needed 40-seat tender boat, aptly christened Island Breeze.
Philippines
Philippine Business – A Hobby Turned Into A Flourishing Enterprise
PhilippineBusiness Philippines, 5 July – “DO what you love? the money will follow,”....
PIA Daily News Cagayan de Oro City 23 June : "DO what you love… the money will follow," is a title of one business book, and Lolita Cabanlet epitomizes that book title. She practically pursues what she loves and enjoys doing, and in the process, paved the way for the birth of Cagayan de Oro Handmade Paper Crafts (CDO-HMPC).
Timor Leste
Australian government to fund rural electricity project in East Timor
MacauHub Dili, East Timor, 23 April – Australia’s ambassador to East Timor, Peter Heyward, Wednesday in Dili announced funding of over US$500,000 to fund a rural electricity project using solar panels.
Diarias de Noticias Díli, 22 abr (Lusa) - Timor-Leste: Governo australiano apoia eletrificação rural por painéis solares.
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Solomon Islands
Pelena plans to light up more villages
Solomon Star 11 May An Australian company Pelena Energy is hoping to establish 500 village electrification projects in the country...
Didao to use Australian funds to boost fish exporting business
OneTelevion 16 Apr 2010 Being awarded the Australian Enterprises Challenge Fund is not the end of the line for Didao Development Corporation, says managing Director Toata Molea. Molea says this is just the start of bigger and better things to come. Didao Development Corporation which started in the late 80’s was announced last week as one of the recipients of the award to establish a fish processing and export operation.
Australia Provides $15 million to Support Income Opportunities for the Poor
Solomon Times 8 Apr 2010 Australia will provide a further $15 million to innovative private sector projects in Solomon Islands to promote poverty reduction and economic growth.
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Fiji
Peking ducks help Fiji farmers diversify
Pacific Beat Small hold sugar cane farmers in Lautoka Fiji will be given the opportunity to diversify by becoming babysitters for Peking ducks. Reddy Farms, breeders of Peking ducks, is one of eight Pacific Island businesses awarded grants through the AusAid Enterprise Challenge Fund. One of the Reddy Farm owners, Bhakt Reddy, will use the AUS$150,000 grant to expand his business by offering around 130 struggling sugar cane farmers the opportunity to raise 50 ducks for the first six weeks and then buy them back
Seven ducks turn into gold
Fiji Times HE started off with seven ducks. And 11 years later with at least 2500 ducks to his name, Bhakt Reddy of Reddy Farms is ready to help supplement the income of small-scale cane farmers and all those interested. He will supply them with 50 ducklings each at no cost at all and he will buy it back from them once the ducks are ready for the market. That, he said, would be possible with the Australian Government's $149,000 grant he received last week.
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New funding for Asia-Pacific business projects
ABC News 8 April 2010 - Australia has announced funding for a dozen new small business projects in Asia and the Pacific, with alternative energy a prominent theme.
Funding boost for Pacific small businesses
Pacific Beat 8 April 2010 - Australia's Enterprise Challenge Fund - known as the ECF - has announced its latest round of grants for viable business projects across the Asia-Pacific region. Several Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji businesses have been granted large funding boosts. Download audio of the interview.
Australia spends millions on small business
YoutTube 9 April 2010 - The Australian Government has announced a new round of grants. See more of the Round 3 annoucement at Mr Site.
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Vanuatu
Australia Supports the Vanuatu Beef Industry
11 Feb 2010 Australia is providing more than $1.3 million to support the beef industry and increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in Vanuatu. Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, has congratulated Vanuatu company Sarami Plantation for their successful bid in round three of Australia's Enterprise Challenge Fund (ECF) grants scheme.
“The Sarami Plantation initiative will be an excellent model for other Pacific Islands and should lead to a dramatic strengthening not only of the Vanuatu beef industry but also of livestock industries throughout the Pacific region,” Mr McMullan said.
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Australia to provide a million US dollars to support Vanuatu’s beef industry
Radio New Zealand International - "Australia is providing more than a million US dollars to support the Vanuatu beef industry and increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in Vanuatu. The grant has been given to the Sarami Plantation under Australia’s Enterprise Challenge Fund. "
ECF in the Media
ARCHIVE 2009
Future Rounds
Due to high demand and a consistently high quality of bids, all available ECF grant funding (a total of AU$14.5 million since July 2007) has been allocated. No further bidding rounds are likely to be conducted during this phase of the pilot program. A mid term review, conducted in later 2009, will inform a decision by the Australian Government about the future of the Enterprise Challenge Fund. Please continue to check our website for updates.
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