Vodafone Samoa's Chief Executive Officer, Rana Bose, has said it has not yet been consulted on the government’s e-Transport initiative but welcomes the move toward digital transformation.

He said their sister companies have successful experience with similar regional programs. 

This comes after the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) CEO, Lefaoalii Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti, stated that MCIT aims to implement at least one digital project with each government ministry by 2030, and the electronic bus card system is one of the projects that has been in discussion. 

In an email response to the Samoa Observer, Bose said it anticipates further details will be shared by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regarding the scope of work, consultation process, or tender process.

“Introducing technology is the easiest part of the digital transformation journey, and we welcome the initiative from the Government,” Bose stated. “We look forward to more projects in public service.”

Vodafone noted that its group company, Vodafone Fiji, has successfully operated a similar e-Transport program for several years, positioning them with relevant experience should Samoa pursue partnerships for implementation.

The company emphasised the broader benefits of digitising public services, including increased efficiency, 24/7 service availability, improved transparency, stronger public engagement, enhanced data analytics, and long-term cost savings.

“By leveraging technology, governments can streamline processes, make services more accessible, and foster a more responsive government,” Bose stated.