In partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the Australian
Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Business Link Pacific has launched the
second round of Adaptation Grants for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the Pacific.
The investment of 3.3M NZD by both the New Zealand and Australian Governments to the Business
Adaptation Grants is another example of how these two nations are working together with the Pacific
Islands to contribute to a stable and prosperous region.
“We understand small and medium-sized businesses throughout the Pacific are still hurting financially
from the impacts of COVID-19. This second window of grants will help affected businesses with funding
to support new products and services, as well as projects to adapt to the changing environment,” says
Steve Knapp, Director of Business Link Pacific.
Adaptation Grants will be available to eligible businesses in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and for the first time in Vanuatu.
Business Link Pacific’s recent survey on access to SME finance and the impact of COVID-19 continues to
show a deeply impacted sector; 84% of respondents said they have seen a decrease in their business
profitability with 54.4% having reached out for financial assistance provided by banks or other financial
institutions.
Adaptation grants applications are open now until the 27th of July 2021 via the BLP website:
finance.businesslinkpacific.com/adaptationgrants
Since Business Link Pacific was established in 2017, it has assisted over 2,500 small-medium sized
businesses with online Business Health Checks, Continuity Plans and in-depth diagnostics. Also, it has
facilitated 765 business advisory services subsidies, and contributed to the creation of an estimated 890
new jobs; 49% which are filled by women.
BLP invites SMEs in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga,
and for the first time in Vanuatu. to visit: finance.businesslinkpacific.com/adaptationgrants and find
more information about the BLP adaptation grants, including eligibility criteria for SMEs and projects.
For further information, contact BLP Manager John Lemoa at 31090 or
samoa@businesslinkpacific.com. Applications are open now until the 27th of July 2021.

– ENDS –

For more information about the programme or to arrange an interview contact: Sandra Mendez, Head of
Communications and Impact for Business Link Pacific on sandra.mendez@businesslinkpacific.com
About Business Link Pacific:
BLP is a private sector development programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade, and aimed at supporting the economic growth of Pacific Island countries.

The Business Link Pacific team is based in Auckland, New Zealand and is currently supported by in-
country partners in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands.

The over 110 business advisory firms members of the Business Link Pacific Advisor Network have
helped to create new products, supported many digital transformations, and helped many businesses
through a variety of crises, including the onset of COVID-19, increasing economic growth across Samoa,
Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Case studies and stories about the business talent in the PICs have been captured and shared with
the Business Link Pacific audience both in New Zealand and across the Pacific Region, and can be
accessed via the Business Link Pacific website.