The spread of COVID-19 across the globe has fuelled the expansion of E-commerce due to lockdowns and confinement measures.
This has caused a dramatic increase in global e-commerce with businesses and consumers moving to online purchases becoming a new norm.
These were the comments by Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo printed on the E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap that was launched last week.
“We need to be innovative because we have seen how paralyzed a country like Samoa can be.
“We need to be proactive, as digital transformation is already happening, transforming vast swaths of our insular economies and we want to remain masters of our digital destiny.
“We have faced many challenges and never-ending obstacles, but we can be proud of the significant strides we continue to make in implementing innovative processes and taking on board practicable measures to move our economies to the next level which is why I am delighted to release Samoa’s first E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap.”
The Minister said they recognize the formidable potential of E-commerce in Samoa by producing cross-border trade opportunities and substantial assistance to MSME’s hit hard during COVID19.
“This E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap will allow us to consider digital platforms to promote goods and services and boost productivity across the economy, ease the constraints associated with Samoa’s remoteness from major markets, expand the scope for e-commerce, trade in services and entrepreneurialism.
“The strategy focuses on those measures that can best be delivered through collective action, thus, complementing the national efforts and strategies that are in place.
“But we cannot undertake these strides alone, I acknowledge with gratitude the valuable assistance provided by the Government of Australia, and the technical support by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and all stakeholders for their appreciated contribution.
“Moving forward into the implementation phase will require immense cooperation amongst leaders in both government, non-government agencies and the private sector.”
He said the Government of Samoa will ensure mechanisms are in place, at institutional and regulatory levels, to ensure the strategy is adopted and budgeted, that its implementation goes through a rigorous monitoring and evaluation process and is harmonized with collective actions taken at the regional level.
