Chamber empowers young entrepreneurs

12 December 2017, 12:00AM

A new platform has been created for young entrepreneurs and business owners, with the aim of empowering them to drive the business community in the future.

This platform is called the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber (Y.E.C.) launched last Friday at Hotel Elisa. 

The Y.E.C. is a collaboration between the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, International Labour Organization (I.L.O.) and the Pacific Youth Council.

Samoa is the fourth Pacific Island nation to establish this forum following Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The President of Samoa Chamber, Tuala Pat Leota, said the Y.E.C. belongs to young people and they will determine the future of the organisation. 

 “To the members of the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber – this forum is yours,” he said. 

“The direction and vision for this forum comes from you – I encourage you to make use of this platform and capacity building opportunity. The Samoa Chamber of Commerce is always here to provide assistance and support when needed.”  

The Chamber will also connect the Y.E.C. to International Junior of Chamber of Commerce network and Angels Foundations and programmes, to achieve the forums ultimate objective of providing opportunity and capacity building for youth entrepreneurs.

Representatives from the International Labour Organization (I.L.O.) were also present at the launch – I.L.O. Senior Specialist for Employers Activities, Miaw Tiang Tang, presented on behalf of I.L.O. 

Ms. Tang acknowledged that the forum be driven from the young members of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce. The technical assistance provided by I.L.O. is to support Y.E.C. activities and provide a national platform for young entrepreneurs to advocate for policy change to incentivize youth business start-up and expansion.

Interim President of Y.E.C, Rosa Tapusoa, of Capital Partsright, expressed her gratitude to the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, I.L.O. and P.Y.C. for their efforts in establishing Y.E.C. 

As an active member of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Tapusoa supports having this platform to bring young entrepreneurs together to promote entrepreneurship and address the issue youth unemployment. 

The Interim Vice President for the Y.E.C. is Nalei Paul, the General Manager for H & H Holdings.

12 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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