Support our local businesses — 2022 BizFest coming next week

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Commerce is gearing up for the 2022 BizFest with the focus on local businesses.

The event is scheduled on November 19, 2022 with the theme, "Empowering Local Entrepreneurship”.

This was confirmed by Commerce Director Petti Matila in response to Samoa News questions.

“This is an event to promote and encourage local entrepreneurship in our community. 

“The pandemic has impacted a lot of small businesses on island, and it also provided new business opportunities for our people. 

“We are seeing more online shopping and we want to encourage our local entrepreneurs to come out and utilize these kinds of events to showcase their products and services.”

The director said this is also an opportunity for the department to understand new ways they can develop and design programs to assist small businesses across the territory. 

“This year's BizFest is focused on local businesses, especially when we are just reviving this event since the COVID-19 restrictions. 

“We did not invite any other countries mainly because we are focused on prioritizing local businesses.”

Adding the Department has confirmed 50 vendors that registered a variety of local businesses including retail, food, arts and crafts, etc.,

“We encourage the community to come out and shop at our BizFest on Saturday, November 19 at the OMV from 10am to 3pm.”

According to the director they are conducting an orientation or briefing Wednesday with all registered vendors to ensure the preparations and plans for that day are done well ahead of time.

“ASTCA is also partnering with DOC to provide free WiFi access at the event that day. So, we look forward to seeing everyone there to check out our 2022 BizFest,” said Matila.