The Samoa Koko Industry Association (SKIA) held its 1st official AGM, since its incorporation in July 2018. The vision of SKIA is to develop and enable Samoa’s local cocoa market and increase Samoa’s participation in the global cocoa market.
The AGM was conducted according to the SKIA constitution. SKIAs establishing committee spent more than 9 months consulting with Independent Farmers, Farmers associations and Government on its orgorganisations rules before it was lodged with MCIL.
The Secretary for SKIA Lemauga Hobart Vaai states ,“ t’s been challenging because of the long absence of a single focal point for the cocoa industry in Samoa but very important we follow a transparent and clear process in establishing the association, the most important outcome when developing the constitution is that SKIA has the buy-in of both the private sector stakeholders and Government and we built a solid foundation in our constitution and set the precedence of good transparency and accountability by presenting our first audited financial accounts as well”.
The SKIA membership elected a strong Executive Committee represented by leading Cocoa farmers and leading farming organizations from both Upolu and Savaii, Mulitalo Saeana Penaia a prominent leader in the Cocoa industry in Samoa has been elected as the Chairman for SKIA 2019/2020.
The SKIA Elected Committee for 2019/2020:
Chairman: Mulitalo Saena Penaia
Vice Chairman: Alo Kolone Va’ai
Independent Farmer reps: Asiata Valasi Tafito, Seutatia Va’ai
Bean Processors: Noras plantation Foods Ltd, Savaii Koko
Upolu Farmer Association reps: Samoa Farmers Association (SFA), Samoa Women Association Growers (SWAG)
Savaii Farmer Association reps: Itu Asau Koko Association, Sosaiete Aufaifaatoaga Savaii (SAS)
For more information on SKIA, please contact the Secretariat at the Samoa Chamber of Commerce office, Sanalele complex, Saleufi
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