The new Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Leota Laki Sio is looking forward to working with the private sector and beginning the dialogue with the business community. 

Leota hands over the baton for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to its incoming Minister, Mulipola Anarosa Ale– Molioo on Wednesday. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Leota said he believes the Cabinet reshuffle by the Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was a strategic move to better improve the work of Cabinet. 

He noted the SAT$1 million development grant for districts is the baby of the ruling Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party and needs further assistance in order for the project to succeed. 

“We came in a difficult time so now we are halfway through, I thought that [Cabinet reshuffle] was her [Prime Minister's] belief that changes needed to be made,” said the Minister. “Basically we came through a teething stage and have identified issues that Cabinet can quickly look into and address. 

“So therefore the reshuffle is just another strategic way to improve the service of Cabinet through Government.” 

Speaking about the $1 million project, the Minister said there has been a high success rate, which was based on districts that have received the funding thus far and the district council committees that adopted the concept. 

The latest data on the District Development Project show 92 district offices are now operational – which is also the percentage of districts that have completed the signing – in order to have their SAT$150,000 disbursed. 

Leota pointed out the districts are still trying to familiarise themselves with the concepts and from observation there is interest in improving the project. 

Given that there are already 48 district council committees, which are on board and have accessed portions of the SAT$1 million grant, he said this is a positive development. 

“There are different interpretations of giving out money,” he said. “These are gaps we came across while rolling out the project and with those issues, the program tried to review the legal framework to block out the gaps that caused these problems. 

“On the other hand, a lot of the issues are being dealt with by the program and the districts…a lot of the issues are internal matters between the district and the Ministry is not encouraged to provide solutions, it is the district that is encouraged to resolve it through the faasamoa.”

Leota added that the Steering Committee has advised Members of Parliament not to dictate decisions for the project, but should be there to coordinate and facilitate, giving districts the chance to share their views. 

In the event that advice is needed, he said the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) and the Steering Committee are available to assist.

Meanwhile, the Minister said he is happy with Mulipola taking over the Ministry to look at challenges surrounding social development such as gender equality and ending violence. 

“It is healthy as she is a woman and she will have new initiatives and it is good for Cabinet that we have the opportunity to deliberate and exchange ideas,” said Leota. “Me going to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour is also an area I’m very familiar with and maybe the change is a new pair of eyes that can further improve the existing services.” 

Leota is looking forward to taking on the new ministerial portfolio, which entails listening to stakeholders and having an open dialogue on business community development. 

He said there are many challenges faced by businesses during COVID-19 and are still in recovery mode and he aims to find better ways to move forward, especially business associations. 

“My intention in working together is to build their capacity to support them,” he said. “It’s the same as building capacity for district councils and similar with NGOs and the model is to strengthen partnerships with business associations or social NGOs. 

“The Government depends on them through the service they provide and a lot of the time those associations are volunteers.”

Leota said he believes that conditions imposed on business associations are too strict and processes should be eased to allow them access to funding. 

He also noted areas such as consumer protection, price control and quality of products which he said is a concern. The Minister also stressed the importance of small business development as 80 per cent of the economy comprised small businesses and is therefore a very important area.