A connected and collaborative business ecosystem

In Samoa, BLP partners with the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We spoke with its CEO John Lemoa about the Chamber’s direction, its priorities and the foundations needed for long-term success.

One of the Chamber’s guiding principles is to help build a connected and collaborative business ecosystem alongside its business partners and financial institutions. This approach has shaped the organisation’s work and planning for some time.

We recognise that progress is strongest when it is shared,” John says. “Our role is to listen, coordinate and work alongside our partners so that, together, we can provide consistent and practical support to Samoa’s private sector.”

He adds that an enabling environment in which businesses can access appropriate finance is essential to economic growth, expansion and responsible scaling.

Providing services for businesses across Samoa

 “This is an opportunity for us to build on the work already underway and to listen carefully to what businesses need,” John says.

The Chamber advocates for the private sector and provides services that support business development, including access to funding opportunities, training and networking. John says the organisation also wants its support to reach beyond its membership. “Where possible, we want these services to be accessible to SMEs across Samoa. By continuing to strengthen our networks and partnerships, we hope to reach more businesses and respond more effectively to their needs.”

We are grateful that the Chamber is increasingly recognised as a national private sector representative by businesses, development partners and service providers,” John says.

“That trust reflects the contributions of many people over time. We still have more to do, and we will continue working to represent the sector’s views constructively and contribute to policies that affect businesses. Our regional relationships also give us valuable opportunities to learn from others and support investment and development initiatives.”

A partnership with BLP that continues to grow

BLP began its partnership with the Chamber in Samoa in 2019, introducing a broad range of support services and expanding the assistance available to local businesses. This commitment was further strengthened through BLP’s support, alongside other partners, for the development of the Chamber’s renewed Strategic Plan 2026/27–2030/31, launched in August 2026.

“The BLP partnership has made a valuable contribution to strengthening the Chamber’s strategic direction, services and organisational capability,” John says.

“The support has grown beyond our initial expectations, and we greatly appreciate the BLP team’s continued commitment. The progress achieved reflects a genuine partnership and the collective efforts of colleagues in Samoa and at BLP headquarters.”

John says the programme’s continued presence is important to both the Chamber and Samoa’s wider private sector.

“We have seen encouraging results over the years, and we value the positive feedback from other organisations working to support private sector development.”

He is also encouraged by BLP’s willingness to adapt and broaden its support to meet business needs.

“We are optimistic about the programme’s next phase. By continuing to listen to businesses and learn from our partners, we can build on BLP’s advisory network and subsidies to support small and medium-sized enterprises more effectively.”

Samoa now has a quality-assured BLP network of 23 business advisers, many based in Apia, providing support to SMEs across the country’s two main islands.

Since BLP began operating in Samoa:

• SME clients have invested NZD 433,894 in business services, with the New Zealand Government providing matching support through subsidies that covered an average of 61% of the total service cost.
• BLP has provided 320 subsidies in Samoa, 265 of them to businesses with one or more female owners.
• BLP advisers have supported 139 SMEs through the grant application process, helping them refine adaptation plans, improve the accuracy of financial information and develop high-quality business plans. From 2021 to 2025, the average individual grant value in Samoa was NZD 6,625.
• From 2021 to 2025, 139 BLP grants totalling NZD 920,903 were disbursed in Samoa. Co-investment grants are now also available through the BLP Co-Investment Fund, which matches SME investment to increase the scale and impact of larger business projects.

Looking ahead to 2026, John hopes discussions led by the BLP team may result in a lending partnership involving BLP, the Chamber and a local financial institution. “It is still under discussion, but we believe it could become a useful finance option for Samoan businesses. The Chamber would be pleased to play a facilitating role and to support the partners involved.”

Challenges facing the private sector

Since joining the Chamber, John has observed significant changes affecting Samoa’s private sector.

“Last year’s energy challenges were difficult for many businesses in Samoa,” he says. Power outages contributed to lost revenue and, in some cases, temporary business closures. John notes that the experience highlighted the importance of ongoing maintenance, investment and long-term planning so that infrastructure can keep pace with the country’s changing needs.

“Infrastructure that met demand five or ten years ago is now under greater pressure,” he says. “Samoan businesses have continued to invest in machinery and equipment, and that growth has increased electricity use. It is a complex issue, and the Chamber is keen to contribute constructively to practical, long-term solutions.”

John says the Chamber is engaging with government and representing private sector perspectives as policy in this area develops.

Climate resilience and renewable energy are also priorities. The Chamber has commissioned reports and hosted workshops to better understand business perspectives on sustainability and the effects of climate change.

Challenges for the private sector

Labour mobility programmes continue to affect businesses, particularly where skilled-worker shortages are already present.

“Labour mobility programmes have created valuable opportunities for many Samoan families,” John says. “At the same time, their growth has also created workforce pressures for some local employers, particularly in sectors that rely on experienced staff.”

He says higher wages available through programmes in New Zealand and Australia can make it difficult for local businesses to retain workers. The Chamber is working with government and other stakeholders to support a balanced policy response—one that respects the benefits of labour mobility while strengthening opportunities for people to build sustainable careers in Samoa and encouraging skilled Samoans to return.

John points to initiatives already underway to strengthen the local workforce, including apprenticeships and vocational training. “There are also programmes that help returning citizens reintegrate into the workforce by creating short-term opportunities for them to apply their skills during the first three months after they return.”

Other initiatives bring trainees from overseas to Samoa to develop skills that support local industries. “These initiatives are helpful, and we appreciate the organisations and individuals making them possible.”

The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays an important role in advocating for businesses and supporting private sector development. The Chamber intends to build on the work of its members, staff and partners by strengthening collaboration and improving access to finance, training and practical support. John is clear that progress will depend on listening, learning and working collectively so that Samoan businesses can respond confidently to a changing economic environment.