Photo: LAST CHAMBER MEETING OF THE YEAR: Tuala Pat Leota (President Samoa Chamber of Commerce), Lina Visinia-I’amafana (A.P.T.C. Learning and Work  Skills Facilitator), Pat Vella (A.P.T.C. Country Manager), Siaana Ioane (Ministry for Revenue A.C.E.O. Taxpayer Services)  and Lemauga Hobart Vaai (C.E.O. Samoa Chamber of Commerce). 

Samoa Chamber of Commerce held its last members meeting of the year last Tuesday.

The meeting was by Australia Pacific Technical-College (A.P.T.C.) at the Vision’s Restaurant.

The meeting was chaired by Samoa Chamber of Commerce President, Tuala Pat Leota, who provided an update on upcoming Chamber activities. 

One of the much anticipated events for the Chamber is the launch of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a forum for young entrepreneurs and business owners, this Friday, 8 December 2017.

The Ministry for Revenue Community Compliance Division was invited to attend and present on the Samoa Tax Reforms. 

Epi Leo Tuimauga and her team discussed the new business license fees and tax rates. She also presented on Samoa e-tax; an easy online service for customers to use to file and make e-payments.

A.P.T.C’s Learning and Work Skills Facilitator, Lina Visinia-I’amafana, gave a special presentation on the importance of integrating employability skills into vocational training programmes. 

She said an S.Q.A survey of T.V.E.T. and Training Graduates and local employers reported that many of these graduates lacked employability skills such as good work ethics, communications and soft skills. 

In an effort to address this, A.P.T.C. adopted a new framework which outlines three sets of skills needed in order to perform well in any job; Technical skills, Core Skills and Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills. 

Lina noted that this framework has been implemented into all of their trainings and they also have a Working Skills program which specifically focuses on basic computing skills, job search skills and business skills. 

A.P.T.C. ensures that all of its students are equipped with up to date technology, hands on experience and teaching staff who remain current, this is to improve the quality and standard of students who graduate into the workforce. The feedback A.P.T.C. has received thus far has been positive. 

The Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. as the National Private Sector Organisation (N.P.S.O.) is funded by the Pacific Leadership Program (P.L.P.).