Development

STEC Board Meets PM on National Exports and Agriculture Transformation

Published

3 months ago

November 27, 2025

Prime Minister and Minister of STEC – Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt with STEC Board and Management: Tagaloa E Wilson (Chairman-R); Directors: Asuao Kirifi(L); Tuisa Patea(R); Aualiitia Faafouina(m); Natasha Kolose (Acting CEO-L); Folola Crichton ( Acting ACEO-Finance M)..Meeting at Prime Minister’s Office 21 Nov 2025.

Apia, Samoa – 27 November 2025 – The Board of the Samoa Trust Estates Corporation (STEC) met last Friday 21^st November 2025 with the Prime Minister and Minister responsible for STEC to discuss Government’s direction for strengthening Samoa’s export capacity and accelerating national agricultural development.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to winding up the old STEC structure, earmark STEC lands for commercial agriculture and transitioning toward the support and establishment of the Samoa Export Authority (SEA) as the new institutional driver of commercial agriculture and export growth.

The STEC Board fully endorsed this direction and confirmed that STEC will support the transition process, in collaboration with the current SEA Board, to ensure a smooth, unified, and professionally guided changeover.

Experienced Leadership at the Helm
The transition will be supported by a highly experienced STEC Board led by:

Chairman Tagaloa Eddie Wilson – one of Samoa’s longest-standing exporters and agricultural manufacturers, with over 30 years of hands-on experience in export development, value-added processing, commercial farming, and international market access.
Patea Tuisa Tasi– Solicitor, legal advisor, and expert in statutory compliance and governance.
Asuao Kirifi Pouono– Agricultural technical advisor with extensive executive managerial experience in commercial agriculture and farm development.
Aualiitia Fouina Milford – Respected agriculturalist and leader of recognised farmers’ association, providing representation for primary producers.
Management Team: Acting CEO– Natasha Kolose has been involved with STEC at the executive helm for several years as well as STEC management of its lands at Mulifanua & Folola Crichton –Acting ACEO Finance. Both executives have been involved in providing support for the STEC Boards transitional plans since 2023.

Driving Samoa’s Export-Led Economic Strategy
The Board meeting emphasised that the transformation from STEC to SEA is directly aligned with Government’s broader economic priorities:

Strengthening the District Development Program (DDP) by linking village agriculture to commercial supply chains.
Expanding commercial farming on STEC’s lands to secure continuous supply for export markets.
Reversing Samoa’s deteriorating balance of trade by increasing export volumes and value-added production.
Supporting tourism and aviation development, ensuring the agriculture sector can supply hotels and ecotourism, airlines, and visitor markets.
Working with national utilities to secure reliable water and power essential for commercial agriculture and processing.

The STEC Board expressed strong confidence that the transition to SEA will create a modern, unified export institution that is capable of transforming Samoa’s agriculture and increasing export, driving long-term economic growth.

STEC Board’s Commitment
The STEC Board thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership and confirmed its full commitment to:

Managing the transition process professionally and transparently;
Working collaboratively with SEA, Government ministries, and districts under the DDP;
Mobilising STEC lands for productive commercial use;
Building the foundations of a strong, export-driven Samoa.