The 2020 Samoa Exports Awards has been postponed until June 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic State of Emergency.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.), Pulotu Chu Ling. 

The closing date of the application process for the export awards was postponed many times and now the event is officially deferred.

The statement informs the business community that aside from the State of Emergency for protection against the Corona Virus (COVID19) Pandemic, the uncertain business environment is another factor for the decision.

“The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, in partnership with the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (S.A.M.E.) have decided to defer the Samoa Exports Awards scheduled for this year to next year June, 2021,” reads the statement.

It added that the both M.C.I.L. and S.A.M.E. expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the businesses who invested time and resources in preparing and submitting their applications for the exports award 2020.

“Please be assured that the confidentiality of the information included in your application forms will continue to be maintained by the Ministry.

“Should there be any new developments regarding the Samoa Exports Awards, we will advise our business community accordingly.”

For further information and clarification on this notice, please contact our Industry Development and Investment Promotion Division on telephone 20441. 

The exports award was launched on February this year with the aim of recognising excellence among Samoan exporters. 

The focus of the event seeks to build upon the inaugural Samoa Export Awards, hosted in June 2018, with a view to increasing the contribution exports make to the national economy. 

It is an initiative of the S.A.M.E and is supported by the 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.

There were nine award categories for the awards which include: Best Agriculture and Fisheries Export; Best Creative Industry Exporter; Best Emerging Exporter; Best Export Support Services; Best Female Exporter; Best in Innovation; Best Value Added; the Excellence in Export Marketing; and the Overall Exporter of the Year.