Small locally owned businesses in Port Vila are facing growing challenges as larger businesses and companies expand into areas traditionally occupied by local shop owners.

With Port Vila Municipal Council elections approaching this month, some local business owners are calling on the next council to take action to support small businesses and create a fairer business environment.

For many years, locally owned businesses have played an important role in Port Vila’s economy, particularly small shops operating in residential areas.

However, some business owners say the business environment has changed, with many local shops closing while property owners increasingly rent their buildings to larger businesses and companies.

Local business owners say their concerns are not about competition itself, but about having a business environment that gives local entrepreneurs a fair opportunity to survive and grow.

Businesses expanding beyond the town centre

Marie Issach from Freshwater Six said that in the past, larger businesses were concentrated in designated areas such as China Town.

She said this allowed people to know where to go for different types of shopping and helped keep the main business activity concentrated in the town centre.

“During the time of the late Father Walter Lini, there was a place known as China Town where larger businesses could operate. It worked well because people could go to China Town to shop, and everyone was mainly in the centre of town. But now I see businesses moving outside into areas such as Teouma and other places outside Port Vila.”

Issach said the expansion of larger businesses into different areas is affecting the environment in which small local businesses operate.

Local shops facing declining sales

The concern is not limited to Freshwater.

VBTC News visited different areas within the Port Vila Municipal area, where several local business owners raised similar concerns about the challenges they are facing.

John Roy Pakoa, owner of Sakari Store in Freshwater, said his business has also experienced a decline in sales.

“Before, business was good, but now sales are not like before. Only late at night are we able to make some money, but sales are not doing well like before.”

He said the changing business environment is making it increasingly difficult for small local stores to maintain their businesses.

Business owners call for council action

In Anabru, a local businesswoman also called on the Municipal Council to take the issue seriously.

She said her small shop is struggling to compete with larger businesses operating around her.

“From my point of view within the municipal area, I have a small shop, but I find that I am not making a profit because the big shops around me are challenging my business.”

The concerns are also being raised by community leaders.

Chief Willie Kaswolli, a chief representative from Freshwater, said local people should have greater opportunities to own and operate businesses in their communities.

“In Holen, Freshwater and every place here, we want to see local people owning businesses in these areas, rather than overseas business owners.”

Focus turns to upcoming municipal election

With the Port Vila Municipal Council election approaching this month, local business owners say they will be paying close attention to candidates seeking to lead the municipality.

They want candidates to listen to the concerns of the local business community and take practical action on issues affecting the livelihoods of local entrepreneurs.

For the business owners, the message to the next municipal leadership is clear: they want a business environment that supports local entrepreneurship while maintaining fair competition and giving small businesses a genuine opportunity to survive and grow.