Twelve Samoa owned and operated businesses will converge on Apia for a three-day Samoa Business Network (S.B.N.) Business Trip event this week.   

To be held on November 14-16, the purpose of the event is to bring a group of New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and American Samoa-based Samoan S.B.N. members to scope and make business to business connections.   

The New Zealand delegation is expected to be led by Samoa Trade Commissioner, Magele Mauliliu Magele and will feature former New Zealand rugby league player, Sione Faumuina, who is now a successful motivational speaker, business coach, author and trainer.

Samoa chairperson for the S.B.N, Afamasaga Jackie Curry, said Faumuina is one of the few Samoans who have gone into the field of motivational speaking, a popular profession in the United States, and is gaining momentum in New Zealand. 

Faumuina is expected to deliver an entrepreneurial workshop speech, which is aimed at challenging and motivating people to transform their mindsets, on how they see business and how they can overcome personal barriers. 

“This will be a unique workshop,” said Afamasaga. “We don’t have many of these kinds of speakers come to Samoa, and we specifically brought him over for the purpose of disrupting limiting mindsets that keep people from taking their businesses to the next level.”

The concept of the S.B.N. Business Trip event is not new, but the difference is that the 12 businesses from New Zealand are driven by Samoans, who are not only looking to make business transactions, but aim to find ways on how their business and their unique set of skills and knowledge can make a difference in Samoa - through prospective partnerships in social enterprise and community development. 

“These 12 businesses that we are bringing to Samoa are run by people who think globally and collaboratively,” said Afamasaga. 

“They are looking to make profit as well as positive social and environmental impact. We hope that they will also be committing to community projects and become impact investors and choose to invest in small businesses and be able to support them to move to the next level.”

The diversity of the business delegation will appeal to a variety of multi-level local exporters and those in the business of information and communications technology, fashion industry, non-government organisations and social enterprises. 

Award winning New Zealand-based businesses will include We Accounting and Arbez, who are looking to make connections with local immigration consultants, society of accountants, local training institutions and the agriculture department as well as polytechnic and real estate groups.

There are opportunities for up to 10 local businesses to showcase their products and services to the overseas delegates alongside governmental agencies and local organisations. 

For those interested to showcase or register for the Samoa Business Trip Event, you can send your Name, Business/organisation, Contact phone number to [email protected]. 

Please register before 12pm on Tuesday, November 13, and all payments are to be made at the Events, Marketing and Distribution office, Lotemau Building or call 22843.