The Government has committed financial assistance to the annual export awards.

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, has presented $10,000 to the President of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (S.A.M.E.), Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, to assist with preparations of the Samoa Export Awards (S.E.A.) 2020.

The event is scheduled for Friday 26 June 2020 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Vailima.

The 2020 event seeks to build upon the inaugural S.E.A., hosted in June 2018, with a view to increase the contribution exports make to the national economy. 

The event is an initiative of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers & Exporters (S.A.M.E.) and is supported by (M.C.I.L.).

The awards are being held to support S.A.M.E.’s Samoa Export Plan 2016-2020, which was launched by the Finance Minister and with a range of public and private sector support. 

They seek to improve the export sector in a range of ways including strengthening export growth, narrow the trade deficit, increase foreign exchange reserves and increase employment and economic benefit in rural areas. 

The Chief Executive Officer of M.C.I.L., Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, stated in a previous interview that the awards help shine a light on successful initiatives and “add value” to export businesses. 

He added that increasing earnings from exports is critical in offsetting the costs of imported goods that we need and cannot produce in our country.

The Samoa Export Awards 2020 was launched in February 2020 with the following main objectives: Provide recognition and reward for excellence in exporting; Encourage and stimulate exporting activity; Build greater understanding of what is required to succeed in exporting; Build partnerships between Government and Private Sector to support export growth; Encourage Innovation amongst manufacturers, exporters and services providers.

There are nine Award Categories that exporters can apply under: Best Agriculture and Fisheries Export Award; Best Creative Industry Exporter Award; Best Emerging Exporter Award; Best Export Support Services Award; Best Female Exporter Award; Best in Innovation Award; Best Value Added Award; Excellence in Export Marketing Award and Overall Exporter of the Year Award.

Due to the current State of Emergency, the due date for applications has been extended to 29th May 2020.

The application form is still available from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Labour office or website at www.mcil.gov.ws. 

For any further assistance on the application form/process the Industry Development and Investment Promotion division of the Ministry can be contacted via telephone numbers 20441 or 28096.