Awards a highlight for Samoans

By Ivamere Nataro 04 August 2018, 12:00AM

Identifying and bridging the gap between the lack of business support and networks available to Pacific businesses, especially Samoans is why Samoa Business Network (S.B.N.) exists. 

A Samoan herself, S.B.N. New Zealand Chairwoman, Laura Keil-Hall said she teamed up with Rasmus Pereira to run the very first ethnic Pacific business networking event in September 2012, and because they were both Samoans, it was natural for them set up the event as a Samoan initiative. 

“Business networking wasn’t a new concept but it was something new to have a business networking specifically for the Samoans. I had the knowledge and the resource, Rasmus the people so from here S.B.N. was born,” Ms. Keil-Hall told the Business team. 

Part of S.B.N’s success story is celebrating Samoan entrepreneurial success and on September 28, 2018, the S.B.N. Business Awards will be held in Auckland, New Zealand to showcase Samoan business owners and operators and their achievements. 

“Not only that, it is also acknowledging the contribution that the Samoan business community makes to the New Zealand economy through economic development and prosperity,” Ms. Keil-Hall said. 

“We know that Samoans and Pacific peoples have been contributing to New Zealand’s economy for many years. I guess you can say since they arrived on N.Z. shores those many years ago in the 1940s, but there is a lack of data or information to recognise what that contribution is or has been.  

“However there is a project currently in progress by N.Z. Treasury and the Pacific Business Trust to identify the Pacific economy and the contribution it makes to the N.Z. economy as a whole,” she added. 

Ms. Keil-Hall said S.B.N. is about connecting Samoan businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals globally. 

“So we hope that these business awards will bring successful Samoans together celebrate achievements, and be another step forward to connecting our Samoan business people who are working hard to build businesses all over the world.” 

She said they have had a good response from businesses since the announcement of the awards, which will be a biennial event. 

“We encourage members of our Samoan business community to out their business forward for the Samoa Based Business Award and the international categories. We also open the invitation for Samoan based businesses to attend this event in Auckland.  Tickets will be going on sale in August,” Ms. Keil-Hall said.

For more details, you can follow the Samoa Business Network Facebook page or email them on [email protected]

S.B.N. was formally established as an Incorporated Society on April 23, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

By Ivamere Nataro 04 August 2018, 12:00AM
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