Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau on Tuesday announced the official launching of the MAUA e-commerce platform in Port Vila.

The launching signalled the regional expansion of the e-commerce platform to other Pacific island economies with the company also considering Solomon Islands and Tonga.

The official launching in the Vanuatu capital on Tuesday makes it the second country in the Pacific Islands for the e-commerce platform to expand to after Samoa. 

It also coincided with the third anniversary of SkyEye Limited. While Vanuatu's first fully integrated e-commerce platform was launched by its Deputy Prime Minister, a special ceremony was held in Samoa at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (T.A.T.T.E.) Convention center to mark the milestone. 

In a livestream of the official launching event in Port Vila on Tuesday, Mr. Kalsakau told the invited guests that it was a pleasure to be at the launching as Maua e-commerce platform as it laid the foundation for the development of the inclusive digital economy for Vanuatu.

"Particularly with regards to providing equal opportunities for SMEs. I will describe the developers of the Maua App as pioneers and the App as a consensual example of Pacific innovation," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

"The App developers identified the challenge and put their heads together to come up with a homegrown tech solution that will benefit thousands and thousands of people.

"I extend my appreciation to SkyEye Pacific, who developed this App with the support from the UN Capital Development Fund's Pacific Digital Economy Program for bringing this innovation to Vanuatu.

"It is the Government's sincere hope that the platform, not only can but it will uplift many of our industries and resource SMEs and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation to drive economic growth in Vanuatu." 

According to a press statement issued by the Apia-based company SkyEye Limited, they already have a presence in Solomon Islands and Tonga, which would see these two countries become the next destinations for the e-commerce platform.

"Vanuatu is the second country after Samoa to launch its MAUA e-commerce platform," reads a SkyEye press release.

"SkyEye intends to expand the reach and benefit of MAUA to other Pacific Island countries that Skyeye is already in operation, such as Tonga and the Solomon Islands.”

SkyEye Vanuatu Director, Wilson Toa said that in the coming days and weeks, their Vanuatu branch would step up its outreach and socialising of their e-commerce platform to potential vendors and customers.

"SkyEye Ltd is most grateful to UNCDF [United Nations Capital Development Fund] and DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] Australia for putting their faith in a Pacific-grown and owned ICT Company. 

“SkyEye also thanks the government of Vanuatu for continuing support and endorsement. 

"It takes a concerted effort and partnerships between the Vanuatu government, development partners and the private sector to realise the goal of Vanuatu's digital transformation. 

“We thank OGCIO [Office of the Government Chief Information Office] for sharing their knowledge and experience. We acknowledge the TRBR [Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator] office for allowing SkyEye to introduce the e-commerce platform during the 2021 ICT Day in Luganville Santo. 

"We thank our telco partners, Digicel MyCash and Vodafone MVATU. We thank all of our stakeholders, partnerships, and supporters who have been generous with their time and support of Skyeye since 2018. 

“We thank our staff and our families. Most of all, we thank God, who has enabled us to come this far. Through him, all things are possible.” 

The firm’s expansion outside of Samoa’s borders marks a milestone, according to the Chief Executive Officer of SkyEye Limited, Faaso’otauloa Sam Saili. 

“Our Maua Samoa Manager Anamaria has been in Vanuatu for a month now helping with the final preparations and we’re excited to expand Samoan grown solutions to the wider Pacific,” Faaso’otauloa said. 

The Maua e-commerce platform is designed to help stimulate economic activity across multiple industries, raising the level of financial transactions and training for all users. 

The e-commerce platform also aims to help empower the most vulnerable groups, including women, youth and persons with disabilities, especially those in rural and remote areas to become economically productive and financially independent by connecting them with buyers and markets.