The Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters has elected its first woman as President, Taulapapa Maria Leota.

Taulapapa, who as well as exporting taro, runs her own fashion and cosmetics line KUKI Company, said she is excited to bring her passion for the industry to the association.

“Manufacturing and exporting is a passion of mine,” she told the Samoa Observer. 

“I wake up in the morning, I’ve got fire in my bones and I’m excited about manufacturing, and I’m excited about what I do in my own work.”

The Association held its annual general meeting on Wednesday and elected Taulapapa to lead it into 2022, alongside Stefan Szegedi as her vice-president, Sua Louis Schwalger as treasurer and Robert Pereira as secretary.

Outgoing President Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, who has helmed the association for more than a decade, remains on the Executive Council.

One of Taulapapa’s first passion projects is to help get herself and other ready-businesses audited and certified to be able to export their products.

Right on the cusp of the pandemic, KUKI Company was ready to be audited and get her health and safety certifications when the borders closed and locked out the New Zealand-based auditor. 

She says there is no one on island with the required qualifications to do the work, and that she is not the only company affected.

“I know there is going to be some sort of boom soon, it’s already starting with some manufacturers who are getting a lot of overseas clients who are after our products.”

Also on the priority list is to establish a mentoring scheme between experience and inexperienced business people. 

Taulapapa said if entrepreneurs could link up with people with years in the manufacturing and exporting sector, they could learn from each other and help grow the economy.

She said when she started KUKI Company in 2018 she made several mistakes she might have been able to avoid if she had had some guidance from someone more knowledgeable. 

But she says figuring out the world of manufacturing has been among the greatest life challenges.

Before starting KUKI Company, Taulapapa worked as a teacher in Australia and in Samoa, and for three years was the principal of Peace Chanel Christian School, before taking on Rees Hirage in Vaivase Uta which she is now the managing director of.

“They were good challenges but this is a different level. I didn’t realise when I got into it how hard it is but it is also rewarding once you crack some of that hardness.

“I’m the sort of person who enjoys the challenge.”

Since becoming president she said she has been approached by garment makers who want more help to get exposure on the world stage and market their products abroad, something S.A.M.E. is tasked to support its members with.

Taulapapa said she is eager to share her experience and expertise in packaging with the members to help promote beautiful local products overseas. 

“I have helped other businesses come from an informal business to a formal business so that when the time comes they are export-ready. 

“That’s another passion of mine, to see other businesses become export ready and I want the economy to grow and more people to have employment and prosperity.”

When it comes to working with the Government on improving Samoa’s trade and manufacturing environment, Taulapapa said she hopes to keep talking tariffs, shipping and incentives to diversify what Samoa ships off to the world.

Too many businesses are losing international clients because of the high cost of freight or import tariffs, she said, the two issues will be among the first things she hopes the new executive will bring to the next Government.