The Small Business Enterprise Centre (S.B.E.C.) Samoa is back on the road again to promote awareness of their services to the community.

This time, they are focusing on Upolu. 

It is the second leg of the S.B.E.C. awareness campaign, which began in Savai’i last year. 

One year on, the programme continued with a session at Pata for the district of Samatau and Falelatai.

It was followed by two more for the district of Falealili held at Poutasi and Sapunaoa. 

The roadshow aims to create awareness about the various assistance available for small business development not only under the S.B.E.C. programme but also the linkages between S.B.E.C’s guarantee and the banks plus various government ministries it works in partnership with. 

The three sessions were attended by more than 150 participants made up of youth, men and women and people with disabilities. 

It was a meaningful forum for S.B.E.C. and the participants to engage and be made aware of the business opportunities and challenges that exist.

It also allowed for dialogue on how to prioritise and address some of these issues. 

One of the unique features of the roadshow is the participation of the various partners, and this made it easier to respond to questions, queries and concerns raised by the public. 

Some of the major issues raised were the influx of foreign business owners, the cost of the business license, impact of the change from the imperial to the metric system, ease of access to finance for farmers and business opportunities for youth and women. 

“S.B.E.C. acknowledges the ongoing support of the Government of Samoa and New Zealand for providing core funding for its operations, which enables the delivery of business development services,” the Centre says in a statement.

“We would also like to thank our partners for their support: The Development Bank of Samoa, Central Bank of Samoa, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Ministry for Revenue, Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour, Samoa Commercial Bank and WT Media.”