The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (MCIL) in partnership with the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) hosted an Awareness Program as part of
Activity 3: Promoting the registration of women entrepreneurs in the informal sector under the Catalyzing
Women Entrepreneurship (CWE) Project. The objective of this program is to raise awareness for women
entrepreneurs in the informal sector on the business registration process, requirements and available support
services provided by other organizations.

The awareness program took place on 25th October 2023 at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Conference Room. In
collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Customs and Revenue (MCR) and Samoa
Business Hub (SBH), their representatives were invited to present on their respective roles and
responsibilities in the process of business registration in Samoa, to thirty (30) women entrepreneurs from
the informal sector who are members of different Private Sector Organizations (PSO), Market for Change
Project implemented by SBH and other programs under the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social
Development (MWCSD). The participants are mostly from the rural areas conducting various small business
activities for income and they were also given the opportunity to inquire more about the stakeholders and
ministries’ relevant roles to assist with their ongoing operations and future transition into the formal sector.

The objectives of this program are well aligned with the goals and the long term objectives of the Micro
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Policy and Strategy particularly increasing the number
of women owned MSMEs and increasing the number of MSMEs participating in the formal sector.