According to the Duke University Centre for International Development, entrepreneurship is one of the most effective drivers of economic growth and development, spurring innovation, creating jobs, driving investment, and lifting the quality of life for entire economies. By leveraging the positive feedback loop between innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development, countries can build pathways to sustainable growth.

This publication outlines the key characteristics of the existing entrepreneurship ecosystem in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The report presents recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term sustainable development of the ecosystem of the seven Pacific Island countries.

The analysis provided in this report reflects the findings of desk research, interviews and focus group discussions.

Findings from this document are utilized under the newly launched Pacific Digital Economic Programme (PDEP) to plan and implement activities that help in enabling inclusive digital economies in the Pacific. The International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, has partnered with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to contribute to the development of the Pacific Digital Economy Programme through this document.