The Samoa Koko Industry Association (SKIA) President, Alo Kolone Vaai has called for the safeguarding of Samoa's quality and unique tasting cocoa, saying it continues to gain international recognition. 

Speaking at the association's annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Alo while presenting the chairman's report, emphasised the need to maintain the country's quality and unique tasting Samoan cocoa.

He said the acknowledgement of Samoan cocoa was evident at the South Pacific Cocoa of Excellence Awards held in Adelaide, Australia which he and former SKIA president Mulitalo Saena Penaia attended.

Alo and Mulitalo were awarded first and third place certificates for the quality of their cocoa beans at the South Pacific Cocoa of Excellence Awards.

“These awards are a further recognition of the high reputation and standard that Samoan cocoa holds compared to other varieties found in the Pacific," Alo said in a statement that was issued SKIA.

The AGM on Tuesday night covered the chairman’s report and updates for all SKIA events and activities in the last financial year as well as SKIA financials for its operations in 2021. 

Welcoming SKIA members on Tuesday night to the AGM, Alo congratulated them on another successful year for the association before presenting his Chairman’s report that detailed the operations of SKIA for 2022. 

In his report, Alo informed the members that despite a difficult beginning of the year, SKIA has started to roll out its activities such as its cocoa coaching courses that is always highly requested by members. 

The President also touched on the projects SKIA was involved in this year which included the Youth Koko Workshops which were funded by the UNDP. These trainings targeted young cocoa farmers and women cocoa farmers and one of the sessions were trained by SKIA president and Vice president Brigitta Lo Tam. 

Alo also acknowledged the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for its approval of SKIA’s application to the Pacific Islands Rural Advisory Services (PIRAS) where the association was awarded tunnel houses, fermentation boxes and cocoa seedlings. 

As part of new appointments made to the Council, three new members were elected to the SKIA EC Council with President Alo Kolone Vaai retaining his role. The other appointments were as follows following the AGM: (a) Former president Mulitalo Saena Penaia was elected in as Vice president for the year 2022-2023; (b) Vui Lance Lameko was elected as one of the Independent Farmers Rep while (c) Samoa Farmers Association was welcomed in as one of the Upolu Farmers Association representatives with Afamasaga Toleafoa as its authorised representative. 

Alo also acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and SCIDI project for the ongoing activities for SKIA and expressed his gratitude at all the members that were involved in and supported SKIA in all its events and activities in 2022. 

He then thanked the members for putting their faith in him to continue on his role as president and welcomed the newly elected executive council.

“I want to thank all our members for their continuous support towards all SKIA operations this year we could not have done the work without you," Alo said. 

"I would also like to welcome in our newly elected council members, I am very looking forward to working with you all on ways to benefit all SKIA members moving forward.”

The SKIA Elected Committee Members 2022 - 2023

Chairman – Alo Kolone Va’ai

Vice Chair – Mulitalo Saena Penaia

Independent Farmer Representatives – Taupaū Alex Mikaele and Vui Lance Lameko

Upolu Farmers Association Representatives – Samoa Farmers Federated Incorporation & Samoa Farmers Association

Savaii Farmers Association Representatives – Itu Asau Koko & Sosaiete Aufaifaatoaga Salafai

Koko Bean Processors –Wilex Samoa

Auditor – Leota & Niumata’ Chartered Accountants

SKIA was established in 2018 with the support from Samoa Cocoa Industry Development Initiative and the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade.