A big challenge for micro, small and medium sized businesses (MSMEs) in the Pacific—particularly those located in rural areas—is access to affordable, quality advisory services.

Isolation, lack of knowledge, language and travel obstacles can stand in the way of getting the tailored advice they need to grow.

In Samoa, a BLP collaboration with the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and the Samoa Business Hub (SBH) is making progress on this score. The goal is to increase the number of MSMEs who can get access to subsidised business advice and financial support.

BLP Business Services Manager John Lamoa who based in the SCCI, says the collaboration starts with sharing a list of businesses who have received a BLP grant (under the BLP Small Grant Facility) with the Samoa Business Hub.

SBH is well connected to both urban and rural business owners across the two main islands of Samoa, Upolu and Savai’i. They run monthly meetings across nine geographic cohorts on Upolu and five cohorts in Savai’i bringing micro/small/medium business owners together for training, mentoring and advice. Each cohort has around 20-30 people in attendance.

Unasa Atuaisaute Misipati is CEO of SBH and a BLP-approved advisor in Financing & Loan Facilitation. “We’ve received our first lot of BLP grant clients, and we’ve had our first visits to understand the businesses and look at their finances. So, we’re starting to work with these clients on their business plan and then we’ll work out how they can access advisory support or financial support.”

Although early days, the collaboration is looking like a positive step to accelerate advisory and financial support to MSMEs in Samoa.

The Samoa Business Hub nurtures local entrepreneurs through a variety of programs including financial literacy training, business planning and business advisory services. The financial literacy training includes guidance on basic accounting principles, budgeting, and forecasting to help manage finances effectively, how to update books, improve accounts, transition accounts to online accounting platforms.

To contact the Samoa Business Hub, here are the options:

• Phone: Calling 2270 is a quick way to get in touch if you need immediate assistance
• Email: If your inquiry is less urgent or requires detailed information, email them at [email protected]
• In-person: If you prefer to talk with someone face-to-face, you can visit their offices at the Sanalele Complex or Salelologa Market.

BLP has worked in Samoa since 2019, enabling a network of 17 advisory firms to support small and medium-sized businesses through advisory services valued at NZ$1M, of which 40% was invested directly by local business owners and the New Zealand government, subsidised 60% through BLP.

In addition, from 2021 to 2024, BLP provided 105 grants valued at NZ$1M to Samoa. 85% of grant recipients have reported to BLP that they are in a better position to access finance after receiving a grant and receiving support for their business planning.

BLP facilitates access to business advisory services and financial support. To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.

The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor. If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.