The annual Samoa Exporter of the Year Awards gives Samoa’s entrepreneurs a chance to measure their standards of business excellence, innovation and service to Samoa. The prestigious awards also give them incentive to increase their bottom line and improve the quality of their products and services.

The promotional programme was initiated by the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry and funded by the Government of Samoa. The EYA programme offers the opportunity to identify, promote and encourage all businesses large or small to strive for excellence in the development of products and services in order to earn foreign exchange.

The main objectives of the programme are:
1. To acknowledge the outstanding foreign exchange earnings achievements of all local based exporters. :
2. To reinforce the Government of Samoa’s encouragement of the need for Samoan companies to strive for excellence in the international arena.

The programme consists of seven categories in which entrants via for the top three prizes in each category.

Leading the way in 2001, the Eco Tourism Company won the award for Goods and Services Export to Overseas Countries. The company, led and owned by Steve & Lumaava Brown, also won the award for Exporter Promoting Environmentally Friendliness. This was a new award that was funded by S.P.R.E.P. (South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme) to encourage companies to be more environmentally aware.

Since it was introduced, the Samoa Business Award has lifted the standards of business excellence in Samoa.

The winners in each category were:

Manufacturing Award
1 Pure Coconut Oil
2 Pacific Cashmere Factory

Services Award
1 CSL
2 A Better Way
3 Samoa Shipping Company

Fisheries Award
1 Albacore
2 Trade-wind

3 S & S Evile

Food Processing Award
1 Nonu
2 Hellaby Samoa
3 Tropical Island Bottles

Agricultural Products Award
1 Taro King
2 R & R Holdings
3 Nonu

Arts and Crafts Award
1 Toni’s Creation
2 Tia’s New Creation
3 Siva Afi

Tourism Award
1 Eco Tourism
2 Moana Divers
3 Coconut Beach Resort

Special Award
1 Pioneer Exporter

Successful Woman Award
1 Pure Coconut Oil

Excellence in Marketing
1 Sinalei Resort

Tourism Award
1 Pure Coconut Oil
2 Pacific Cashmere Factory

For further information about the Exporter of the Year Awards, contact the Trade and Investment Promotion Unit, Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry. P.O. Box 862, Apia, Samoa. Telephone (00685) 20-471 / 20-472 / 20-882; Facsimile (00685) 21-646 or E-mail:TIPU@tci.gov.ws
 

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