Local entrepreneur Faasootauloa Sam Saili has been elected the new President of the Samoa Information Technology Association (S.I.T.A).

Faasootauloa is a director of Skyeye, one of Samoa's most successful technology startup companies whose digital mapping and tracking technology innovation is enabling companies to conduct new kinds of business online.

He was voted President at the S.I.T.A. Annual General Meeting (A.G.M) held last Friday 29 October and will be taking over from Muliagatele James Ah Wai who has stepped down from the role, which he has held since the association's establishment in 2019.

In a statement issued by the association on Monday, the S.I.T.A. said Faasootauloa will be joined by new Vice President, Malaeulu Jobenz Manoa from the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor (M.C.I.L.), Treasurer Ainuu Wellington Seufale from the Ministry of Finance (M.O.F.) and Secretary Akosita Salesa of Vodafone Samoa.

In a telephone interview with the Samoa Observer on Tuesday, Faasootauloa said it is a privilage and honor to be elected as the S.I.T.A President for 2021-2022.

"It is certainly a lot of responsibility, major responsibility, but I would like to thankour outgoing President Muliagatele for all the great milestones that he's been able to spearhead in the last two years in bringing S.I.T.A back to how it is now," Faasootauloa told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday.

He said that the first focus of S.I.T.A is to ensure that their members capacity is built up.

Faasootauloa said that the vision of the association which is in line with the Government mandate is reaching people in the rural areas and make sure they benefit from technology.

He had then acknowledged Muliagatele and the previous executive, and their donors and sponsors that have funded their activities.

The S.I.T.A. executive's membership include a diverse range of information technology experience across the public and private sectors. It includes: Muliagatele (Unit Trust of Samoa), Mailo Henry Mailo (Urban Tech), Sarai Tevita (National University of Samoa), Alex Abraham (Zyberwise), and Elisapeta Mauai (National University of Samoa).

"We [would] like to thank our hard-working Executives in the past administration Finau Tanuli Tinai –Chan and Mark Bartley for their tremendous effort and commitment to our success," the statement read. 

"Our members' full support and backing are very critical in driving our work for the community."

The association also thanked the major sponsor of their A.G.M this year in Vodafone Samoa.

"Your financial and technical support is greatly appreciated. Last but not least our beverages partner for our A.G.M Taula Beverages Samoa. We appreciate the support and the Team who worked tirelessly during the night," the statement reads.

"Since our third year of establishment as S.I.T.A., we have always supported our vision that 'technology is for everyone'.

"Everyone should be inclusive when we talk about technology," the statement said.  

"We value the importance of the multi-stakeholder approach in which the Government, [the] business community, civil society, [the] technical community, [educational] institutions, and various groups are connected and work together to address and resolve issues within our shores [relating to digital transformation.

"We are driven by our mission - to support the Government of Samoa and its people, in utilising technology in all aspects of life to improve working and living standards and protect Samoa from cyber-attacks, and any other threats through its network of [Information Technology] professionals."