Small Business Development and Survival in the South Pacific: Barriers and Strategic Responses

Abstract

This paper looks at the small enterprise sector in six developing countries in the South Pacific region with a view to identify the barriers to enterprise creation, survival and development. The barriers brought to light by the study include insufficient industry and market information, lack of technological and managerial knowledge and skills, insufficient infrastructure, cultural practices inhibiting entrepreneurship, lack of acquisitiveness, dearth of planning skills, inadequate access to capital and supportive systems, and inability to manage growth. With the help of a matrix that segments the small enterprise sector into four parts based on the intensity of the barriers, the author develops certain response strategies to deal with these barriers. He asserts that through a systematic direction of supportive public and private policies and programmes this sector can be infused with the much needed vigor and vitality.Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business Entrepreneurship; Small Business