(Sydney) – As Tonga and Samoa go head-to-head at CommBank Stadium tonight, in a room overlooking the pitch, the two nations will be on the same side, in the name of trade.
The International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, has brought together 10 producers from Samoa and Tonga through its Making Trade Happen (MTH) project, funded by the UK Government Before kick-off, they shared one room, setting aside their rivalry for coffee, vanilla, skincare and other island-made products to entice international buyers.
Nathan Wilson, Director of cocoa and chocolate manufacturer Wilex Samoa, said: ‘On the field, we want nothing more than to beat Tonga. But off the field, we need each other. When an international buyer tastes our chocolate, they’re not thinking Samoa or Tonga, they’re thinking Pacific Island quality. Tonight, we’re one team.’
For many of the exporters, the match is more than a game. Western Sydney is home to one of the largest Samoan and Tongan communities outside the islands, and many of the fans filling the stadium are the customers these businesses want to reach.
Alipate Mafile’o, co-founder of Tupu’anga Coffee, said: ‘Our families living abroad have always carried a taste of home in their suitcases. Now we want them to find it on the supermarket shelf. Every order we win here means more work for our growers back home.’
Showcasing exporters at sporting events
The showcase is part of Trade through Sport, a Making Trade Happen project that uses the global reach of major sporting events to put small exporters in front of buyers they would rarely meet otherwise. This event is being delivered in partnership with the British High Commissions in Samoa, Tonga and Australia.
His Excellency Andrew Nethercott, British High Commissioner to Samoa, said: ‘Rugby League brings out the very best of Pacific pride, passion and teamwork. These businesses bring the same qualities to what they grow and make. The United Kingdom is proud to support turning these Pacific values into lasting trade partnerships.’
Jarmila Sarda, ITC Programme Manager of Making Trade Happen, said: ‘Major sporting events bring a global spotlight and a passionate audience, and that’s a rare opportunity for small Pacific exporters. For a small business, getting a product in front of the right buyer is often the hardest step. Tonight opens that door, and our work doesn’t end at the final whistle. We’ll keep working with these exporters to turn tonight’s conversations into orders and long-term customers.’
The goal is to gain new buyers, new orders and a greater place for Pacific products on international shelves.
From Pacific Island farms to international buyers
Samoa
- Aleisa Coffee: a family-run coffee plantation in the hills of Upolu, revived by a brother and sister who turned their father’s farm into a premium Samoan brand.
- KUKI Samoa: a premium Samoan skincare brand inspired by island heritage, offering luxurious botanical skincare that celebrates the natural beauty of the Pacific.
- Ifiele’ele Plantation: a working organic plantation showcasing sustainable agriculture, crafting artisan products from home-grown produce and authentic island hospitality.
- Wilex Samoa: maker of Koko Loa chocolate and Samoa Noni-Loa juices, adding value to Samoan cocoa and nonu, crops that support thousands of farming households.
- Vicki’s Products: cinnamon and traditional Samoan coconut jam (siamu popo), made from coconuts grown on the islands.
- Women in Business Development Inc (WIBDI): A Samoan non-government organization empowering rural women and families to build sustainable livelihoods through organic farming, value-added production and market access for locally made products.
Tonga
- Tupu’anga Coffee: a family-owned, ethically traded coffee grown and produced in Tonga since 2010, whose sales also support Pacific youth programs.
- Moana Wahine Growers: a women-led farming initiative in Tonga growing vanilla and native plants, and helping rural women build livelihoods through sustainable farming and enterprise.
- Kingdom Koffie: a proudly Tongan coffee brand, sharing the Kingdom through local roasted coffee for nearly 25 years.
- Heilala Vanilla: born in Vava’u, Tonga, 21 years ago and now flavouring kitchens and pantries around the world.
About ITC – The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations>. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit www.intracen.org .
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