Samoa’s economy on recovery path
Samoa is slowly recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, according to the latest Samoa Bureau of Statistics data. Samoa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Expenditure in constant 2013 prices for
Samoa
Samoa ready for Moana Pasifika’s first home Super Rugby game
Samoa will turn on the fireworks when they welcome Moana Pasifika ahead of their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Reds in Apia on Friday. A welcome parade is taking place today and will follow the Police Marching
Over 11,000 travellers visited Samoa in February
A total of 11,411 travellers visited Samoa in February of this year, which according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) is a decrease of 34.4 percent over the previous month of January, 2023. However, the latest
Growing insurance in the Pacific
A vibrant ‘insurance movement’ is “disrupting the historical status quo of insurance coverage access being largely confined to medium to high income urbanites,” says the General Secretary of the United Nations
Measuring vulnerability for development
Once again, people in Vanuatu are rebuilding their homes after two cyclones hit the nation in the first week of March. It’s a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of small island developing states and the way that
Noni juice inching closer to exports
There is good news for noni exporters and producers across the region, with some progress towards having regional standards for fermented noni juice. Nonu (noni) is an important agricultural export in Samoa,
Moana Pasifika to clash against the Reds in Samoa
As Samoa gears up to host the Super Rugby match between Moana Pasifika and the Queensland Reds at Apia Park on 14 April this year, tickets are on-sale now starting at $10. Digicel Samoa advertised the tickets on
Samoa PM Fiame Mata’afa’s inaugural FDC Pacific Lecture
Talofa Lava and warm Pacific greetings. I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to deliver this Pacific Lecture, as has been the tradition for the Lowy Institute to host world leaders in order to foster positive
Nations fight to be called climate vulnerable in IPCC report
Government negotiators fought bitterly last week over which groups and regions are defined as particularly vulnerable to climate change in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Virgin Australia makes its long-awaited return to Samoa
Samoa’s harbourside capital of Apia is once again on the departures board for Virgin Australia, as the airline’s twice-weekly flight from Sydney returns to the sky from today, with Brisbane primed to restart on
Samoa PM pushes for Pacific voices to be better heard
Samoa’s prime minister says small Pacific nations need to be listened to and consulted more over regional security issues as bigger players crowd the region. In her first official visit to Australia, Fiamē Naomi
Physicality, comradery and challenge: Liz Patu
Liz Patu is a former Australia Wallaroos captain and the most- capped Test player in the team’s history, with 33 international Test matches. The tight-head prop shares some highlights of her journey as she paved the
Ownership of Vailima back in local hands
Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa has applauded the patriotic initiative to return the Vailima beer brand to Samoa owned and managed by Samoans without any strings attached. Acknowledging the agreement
USP welcomes home Vice Chancellor with prayers, standing ovations…and soon, FJ$10million
The two-year exile of the University of the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia from the university’s Suva campus ended with a thanksgiving ceremony last night. Professor Ahluwalia told regional
NZ visa process ‘heartbreaking’: Samoa Minister of Police
The processing of New Zealand visa applications lodged by Samoans keen on visiting family is in the spotlight again, with a Cabinet Minister describing it as “embarrassing and heartbreaking”. Samoa’s Minister
NFL star Jordan Mailata shows Pacific kids ‘anything’s possible’
Samoan league player-turned-NFL star Jordan Mailata has overcome the odds to play in Monday’s Super Bowl, but his rise to the sport’s pinnacle shows kids across the Pacific what’s possible, a Kiwi gridiron pioneer
Samoa’s RSE Scheme resumes with 1,200 workers this month
Samoa Cabinet has endorsed new policy guidelines for the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme and 1,200 workers will depart to work in New Zealand and Australia at the end of this month. The New Samoa National
Workers to head overseas after Samoa lifts labour ban
Samoa’s Cabinet is set to resume sending off workers to the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme, which was suspended for all of January. This was confirmed by Acting Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio,
A New Era of Island Leadership: Samoa is AOSIS Chair
Samoa will now lead the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) as Chair. The announcement was made at a special Plenary meeting on Monday featuring the official handover from the outgoing Chair, Antigua and Barbuda.
Cabinet approves establishment of Samoa Export Authority
Samoa’s Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Samoa Export Authority (SEA). This was confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio. He said export development was one of the
Samoa Court to rule if three resigned MPs need to go back to by-elections
The three former Samoa Opposition MPs, who resigned from Human Rights Political Party (HRPP) last month, will go to court arguing the unconstitutionality of the 2019 Electoral Amendment Act that now stops them from
Samoa and NZ reign in South Africa 7s
After three days of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action in Cape Town, Samoa’s men and New Zealand’s women ended the event – and 2022 – in style. Samoa’s men put in a brilliant performance to defeat
EU adding tax-haven blacklist unfair: Chikoti
The European Union (EU) blacklisting member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS) has been described as a “fig leaf” exercise. OACPS Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Chikoti told