American Samoa ready to host Two Samoa Talks Summit

By: Tosimaeʻa Tupua

Email: tupua@opi.as.gov

More than 30 officials from the Samoan Government including Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa are arriving on Tuesday July 26, 2022 in American Samoa for the annual executive summit for the two Samoa. The summit will commence on Wednesday July 27 and ends on Friday July 29. Earlier today a meeting was held at the Governor’s Office to finalize American Samoa preparations.

The two Samoa talks were scheduled for April this year but due to the Covid 19 outbreak, Governor Lemanu P. S Mauga requested to postpone the meeting until it is safe for American Samoa to host.

Speaking to KVZK News this week, Samoa’s Consul General to American Samoa Fata Brain Kaio said the meeting is quite significant especially given both Leaders have not met face to face since Honorable Fiame became Prime Minister and Honorable Lemanu as Governor of American Samoa.

Although the agenda of the meeting has not been finalized, Fata said Samoa recognizes the impacts and ongoing challenges that COVID-19 has imposed on the two Samoa and no doubt this will also be on the agenda of the meeting alongside other matters such as economic development.

The Summit in the past covered a broader range of subjects in addition to Economic Integration — Immigration/ Legal Issues, Mutual legal assistance, Joint Disaster Preparedness.

Consul General Fata and Deputy Secretary of Samoa Affairs Tauese Sunia will join KVZK TV tomorrow July 25, 2022 to announce the full program of the summit. The ASCC Multipurpose Center will be the main venue of this years summit.