New Commonwealth Network to open doors for young entrepreneurs in the Pacific

Young professionals in the Pacific have created a new network to empower young entrepreneurs in the region.

The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAYE) – Pacific was officially launched on Thursday, August 3rd, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

The newest Commonwealth Youth network aims to support economic and social development by fostering intra-regional collaboration and promoting innovation and knowledge exchange among youth development partners.

Government officials and business leaders attended the virtual launch, which included a roundtable discussion about the state of youth entrepreneurship in the Pacific.

Keynote speaker Dr Mema Motusaga, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development in Samoa, applauded the establishment of CAYE Pacific, describing it as a youth-centered strategy that could accelerate the progression of important Sustainable Development Goals, such as those focused on tackling youth unemployment and encouraging economic growth. She said:

"Young people are doing the work to lead the charge for the progression of some of our most important development goals. As such, it is pertinent that those of us in positions of policy and decision-making, work with young people as development partners and recognize the meaningful and often-times voluntary work they undertake to serve as forces for positive and sustainable development.

The young people who initiated the process of establishing the CAYE Pacific network in collaboration with the Youth Programme are small but powerful example of this.”

CAYE-Pacific Chairperson Alex Andric, emphasized that the network would focus on connecting innovative and pioneering young entrepreneurs in the region, offering them access to local and international events and opportunities, as well as collaboration with other CAYE networks and entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia. He said this would broaden their market opportunities and aid them in leveraging the Commonwealth Advantage.

Zachary Harrigan, CAYE-Pacific Vice-Chairperson, added that the network would focus on policy analysis and recommendations for improvement to governments and administrations.

CAYE-Pacific is modelled on existing Commonwealth networks in Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa, which were all founded with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Commonwealth Advisor for Youth Development, Sushil Ram, applauded the CAYE-Pacific Executive Committee for managing and growing the network. He also affirmed the commitment of the Youth Programme to supporting the group's endeavours. He said:

"With youth unemployment recognised as a major global crisis, studies have shown that entrepreneurship makes a huge contribution towards wealth creation, poverty reduction, and developing the human capital necessary for a prosperous future. The formation of CAYE Pacific highlights the youth spearheading positive change and taking charge by providing a platform specifically tailored to the needs of youth entrepreneurs.”

"Today, at a time when the Youth Programme celebrates 50 years of its existence and 2023 as the year of youth-led action as declared by the Commonwealth Heads of Government, we are pleased to continue our advocacy by supporting a request, which came directly from young people in the Pacific for a CAYE network which caters to them."

Mr Ram also urged Commonwealth member states, affiliated organisations, chambers of commerce, policymakers, and business owners to play an active role in fostering the growth of a healthy "ecosystem" by providing guidance and mentorship and working with young people and the CAYE Pacific to promote their activities.

The Inaugural CAYE-Pacific Committee comprises: