Overview:
Artificial intelligence is becoming a practical business tool for Palau’s entrepreneurs. Through a series of community trainings, Palau SBDC and partner agencies are helping women, farmers and small-business owners learn how AI and other digital tools can save time, improve operations and open new opportunities.
KOROR, Palau — Women entrepreneurs, farmers, aspiring business owners and community members across Palau are gaining practical tools to strengthen their businesses as the Palau Small Business Development Center expands community-based training on financial management and artificial intelligence.
From July through August, Palau SBDC conducted a series of trainings for participants from Airai, Aimeliik, Ngiwal and Ngatpang, including women’s groups and ADB Women’s SEED Grantees. The outreach was carried out with partner agencies and local communities to bring business assistance closer to entrepreneurs who may face barriers to attending training in Koror.
The training focused on two increasingly important areas for small businesses: financial recordkeeping and the practical use of AI. Participants learned how better financial practices can improve day-to-day operations while digital tools can help save time, improve communication and support business decision-making.
AI opens new possibilities for small businesses
The AI training, held July 29 at the Civic Center, introduced participants to AI as a practical business tool rather than a highly technical technology.
Entrepreneurs explored ways AI can assist with marketing content, business messages, organizing ideas, preparing documents, customer communication, research and routine administrative work. The training emphasized that AI is intended to support — not replace — the knowledge, judgment, creativity and experience of business owners.
For small businesses with limited staff and resources, the technology can help reduce the time spent on routine tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus more on customers, production, operations and business growth.
The outreach continued Aug. 10 at the Ngiwal State Office and Aug. 11 at Koksai Park through collaboration between Palau SBDC, the Bureau of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment. Participants discussed how AI and other tools could be applied to their farms, businesses, products, services and other income-generating activities.
Women positioned to benefit from digital tools
Women’s participation has been a significant part of the outreach, reflecting the role women play in Palau’s local economy through farming, food production, catering, handicrafts, retail, services, home-based enterprises and tourism-related activities.
Bureau of Agriculture Director Jodean Remengesau said making AI tools accessible through smartphones could help women reduce their workload while creating new opportunities in digital commerce and business transformation.
“Palauan women are already at the front lines of digital transformation,” Remengesau said. “Introducing them to AI business tools that are accessible right from their smartphones can help reduce their workload and put powerful resources within arm’s reach.”
Remengesau also highlighted the importance of partnering with Palau SBDC to expand those opportunities.
The collaboration recognizes that many women and other entrepreneurs already have valuable skills, products, ideas and traditional knowledge. Business development assistance can help turn those strengths into more organized and sustainable enterprises.
Partnerships bring training closer to communities
Palau SBDC Center Director Eustoria Borja led the July 28 invoices and receipts training at the Ked Community Center in Airai. The session responded to needs identified by community members, particularly women entrepreneurs and ADB Women’s SEED Grantees seeking additional help with organizing records, preparing invoices, issuing receipts and tracking income and expenses.
The partnership with the Bureau of Agriculture and MAFE further connected agricultural development with entrepreneurship and business management.
“Farmers are also business owners,” according to Palau SBDC. As agricultural producers seek to increase production, improve packaging, reach customers, control costs or develop value-added products, business skills can help connect production with income.
The collaboration involved Bureau of Agriculture Director Jodean Remengesau, MAFE Project Technical Assistant/Consultant Junior Temong and Extension Officer Bernice Sidoi, whose coordination and logistical support helped facilitate the community trainings.
The initiative demonstrates how agencies and community partners can combine expertise and resources to make business assistance more accessible and responsive to local needs.
Beyond AI: building stronger businesses
The community trainings are part of Palau SBDC’s broader business assistance, which spans the business life cycle from initial ideas and startups to expansion, financing and long-term growth.
Services and training include business planning, financial projections, financial literacy, bookkeeping, invoices and receipts, loan readiness, access to capital, marketing, digital tools, AI for small businesses, cybersecurity, export and trade, and business operations and growth strategies.
The center said the goal is not simply to offer more training but to ensure the training provides tools participants can use after they return to their farms, homes and businesses.
Palau SBDC plans to continue working with government agencies, financial institutions, community organizations, women’s groups, farmers, youth and other partners to develop programs based on the needs of Palau’s entrepreneurs.
The center is encouraging women’s groups, farmers, community organizations, entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners to request future training in areas including bookkeeping, digital financial literacy, cybersecurity, AI, business planning, marketing, loan readiness and other entrepreneurship topics.
For business assistance or to arrange training, contact Delia Rae Joseph, Palau SBDC office manager and training point of contact, at 587-6004 or palausbdc@pacificsbdc.com.
The broader message from the outreach is that stronger businesses can be built by combining local knowledge and traditional strengths with modern business practices, technology and collaboration. (Source: SBDC-Palau)