Bilateral meeting with The Honourable Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Prime Minister of Samoa

Apia, Samoa - The FAO Director-General met with Samoa’s Prime Minister, The Honourable Fiame Naomi Mataafa, to advance collaborative efforts toward agrifood systems transformation and sustainable development for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The Director-General praised Prime Minister Fiame’s leadership and consistent support to the Organization, particularly for hosting the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific, emphasizing Samoa’s pivotal role in regional development.

He reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and SIDS, and referred to the recent establishment of the FAO Office of SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs to further leverage support for these countries.

The Director-General also highlighted the importance of a unified 2024 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum to attract investment and funding and expressed FAO’s readiness to support training for Samoan people, enhancing local expertise.

He referred to his recent visit to the local market, noting the high prices of vegetables and the need to increase productivity to address Samoa’s needs for cold chain storage, land planning, and restoration—all areas in which FAO is prepared to assist.

Prime Minister Fiame commended FAO’s achievements under the Director-General’s leadership, recognizing his impactful vision, as well as FAO’s essential role in advancing Samoa’s food self-sufficiency goals. She emphasized that Samoa’s commitment to self-sufficiency sends a powerful global message, aligned with FAO’s mandate.

The Prime Minister reiterated Samoa’s dedication to deepening its partnership with FAO, supporting shared goals for sustainable agrifood systems transformation, and reinforcing resilience and long-term development across the region.