Almost one hundred participants took part in a Samoa Business Hub e-Market awareness programme at Faleasiu-Uta last week. 

The Samoa Business Hub and their working partners Skyeye, Vodafone and Digicel held their first Cohort meeting program at Faleasiu-Uta and Aleisa with the theme of e-Commerce. 

The program began with the opening remarks by Tapusoa Senele Tualaulelei, Principal Special Project SBH, followed by the presentations by the Skyeye though their Maua App representative, Digicel though their My Cash Representative and Vodafone through their M-Tala representative.  

In an interview with Tapusoa, he said the programme was part of preparation work by their Centre Office for the development of small businesses, to improve the economy and boost business people in that part of the country - Aleisa, Faleasiu-Uta and part of Tanumalala.

"We all know the impact and the influence of the Covid 19 plandemic to these small business people, so we are helping them by using online marketing through our working partners with the available Apps, to make things easier for them and get more opportunities in marketing and in trading. 

"The majority of these people are vegetable farmers in different groups like fruit vegetables, leaves vegetables, stem vegetables, etc, and some of them have taro plantations and some have small shops and taxis. So the focus is to encourage these people not to give up during these hard times, and to advise them of more options for marketing.”

“Coming out here away from the office and face to face with these people taught us huge lessons. God has a lot of different ways to show His Love and His Will and it shows by the people’s response to our programs."

Tapusoa said they would move on to the remaining 8 districts (out of 9 total) for Upolu next week.

"[Saturday] will be Lefaga and Safata at EFKS Saanapu Uta; on the 9 June 2021, Anoamaa Cohort; 11 June 2021, Aleipata, Lepa & Lotofaga; 16 June 2021 – Aana Cohort; 18 June 2021 Falealili & Siumu Cohort; 23 June 2021, Aiga I le Tai; Samatau & Falelatai Cohort. 

"And then we will bring other organizations and Ministries, as these people have requested, for the next program, like Ministry of Agriculture and Fishers, Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa and Civil Society Support Programme." 

On the ground, residents have shown appreciation for the Samoa Business Hub initiative. 

President of Aleisa and Faleasiu-uta Cohort Mrs . Rosa Mu said it hasn't been easy on their livelihoods, since the state of emergency restrictions. 

“There are 86 people that registered under the S.B.H. programs from this part of the country. Many of our businesses are vegetables and we normally sell them in different supermarkets in town. But since the restrictions and lockdowns started, it wasn’t the same for us; it was very slow in marketing. So we are so grateful to S.B.H. and their working partners for giving us their shoulders to lean on and help us.”

Farani Keneseli, 69, of Tufulele shared the same sentiment, saying he normally sold his lettuce, cabbage, beans and pumpkin at Taumeasina Island Resort and Lynn's Supermarket but he only started up again with supplying his vegetables two weeks ago since the Covid 19 pandemic struck.