Pacific Games lands $2 million sponsorship

By Sapeer Mayron 17 December 2018, 12:00AM

In “going local,” the Pacific Games has signed a $2 million sponsorship deal with Samoa Commercial Bank.

Managing director, Lemalu Ray Ah Liki, and senior manager Tauiliili Ruth Penaia signed the memorandum of understanding with games chairperson, Loau Keneti Sio and chief executive Falefata Hele Matatia.

C.E.O Falefata said the bank was his first choice as the “official bank” of the games, as it means supporting local businesses as well. 

The bank is also named a platinum sponsor, joining Digicel who was named last week as the official sponsor.

As well as funds, Samoa Commercial Bank will support the Pacific Games team by allocating staff to help them with banking and finance, Lemalu Ray Ah Liki said.

Making sure the games are a success is a priority for Lemalu, he said.

““Hosting the Pacific Games is no easy task; it requires a lot of money. So I recommended to the board we should assist and hopefully other businesses and companies in Samoa will follow suit and show they’re behind the government,”

“It’s the name of Samoa at stake, so we all have to do this.”

Though Samoa took on the games late in the process, Lemalu believes it will be great for Samoa, with the facilities and resources to run the events.

“I take my hat off to the prime minister for being courageous,” he said.

A generous tax relief means the sponsorship deal will only cost S.C.B $1 million but their contributions in staff to assist the team are not tax free.

“We’ll be helping with some banking needs and things,” Lemalu said.

“We can’t provide everything they are asking for, because they are going to need a lot of volunteers, but we will allocate some of our staff to the Games.”

But the reputation benefit of sponsoring the games should go a long way, he hopes.

“We want to have a good relationship with government, but also with the people of Samoa who will see we are the people’s bank, helping the needs of our nation.

“So hopefully they want to come and support Samoa Commercial Bank more than any other bank,” he said.

Falefata said he believes the Pacific Games are “tracking along nicely” towards its sponsorship goal. Samoa Observer understands more announcements will be made this week.

By Sapeer Mayron 17 December 2018, 12:00AM
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