The Honourable La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, lead a high-level delegation to attend the prestigious FAO World Food Forum and Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, held from 14-16 October 2024 at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The delegation includes Seuseu Dr. Joseph Tauati, CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, CEO of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, and Lonnie Tuatagaloa, First Secretary to the Ambassador of Samoa to the United Nations Office in Geneva, along with the support of Mrs. Heather Tupea Fosi Schmidt. Senior officials from the Samoa based FAO Sub Regional Office of the Pacific, Madam Xiangjun Yao and Mr Fata Philip Tuivavalagi is also attending to provide support for the Pacific Island countries presenting their Investment Plans at the forum.
Samoa’s participation in the event comes as part of the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIHI), which seeks to transform agrifood systems by fostering investment opportunities that combat poverty, hunger (SDGs 1 & 2), and reduce inequalities (SDG 10). The initiative champions collaboration and partnerships to improve market access, raise incomes, enhance food security, and bolster resilience against climate change for vulnerable communities.
Following Samoa’s formal expression of interest to FAO in June 2024, Hon. La’aulialemalietoa officially presented Samoa’s Hand-in-Hand Investment Plan at the Forum on the 16 October 2024. With a focus on the COCONUT, COCOA, and TARO value chains, the Plan, valued at USD 26 million, aims to modernize farming, improve processing technologies, increase access to premium markets, and reduce poverty by creating job opportunities and raising incomes for smallholder farmers.
Hon. La’aulialemalietoa and his delegation has engaged in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key partners, including FAO leadership, IFAD, UNCDF, WFP, World Bank, and development partners from New Zealand and Australia, to discuss shared priorities for Samoa’s agricultural growth, sustainable development, and building resilient food systems.
Samoa’s active participation in the FAO World Food Forum and Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2024 reflects the government’s strong commitment to transforming its agrifood systems and improving the livelihoods of all Samoans.
I le Gagana Sāmoa
O le Minisita o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva o le Malo o Samoa, le Afioga ia La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, na taitaia se aumalaga e auai i fonotaga (World Food Forum ma le Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum), sa faia mai le aso 14 – 17 o Oketopa 2024 i le Ofisa Autu o le Faalapotopotoga o Taumafa ma Faatoaga (FAO) i Roma, Italia. O le aumalaga e aofia ai Seuseu Dr. Joseph Tauati, Ofisa Sili o Pulega o le Matagaluega o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, Ofisa Sili o Pulega o le Matagaluega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia ma Leipa, ma Lonnie Tuatagaloa, Failautusi Muamua i le Amepasa o Samoa i le Ofisa o Malo Aufaatasi ma isi faalapotopotoga faavaomalo i Sineva, fa’atasi ai ma le lagolago a le faletua, le Susuga ia Heather Tupea Fosi Schmidt. Sa faapea foi ona auai i lea fonotaga sui sinia o le ofisa tutotonu o le FAO i le Pasefika, le tamaitai pule ia Xiangjun Yao ma Fata Philip Tuivavalagi, e lagolagosua i folasaga a atunuu o le Pasefika.
O le auai o Samoa i lenei fonotaga, o se laasaga taua lea mo le fa’amoemoe e suia ai faiga o meataumafa e ala i le fa’atupuina o avanoa mo tupe teu faafaigaluega e foia ai le mativa, fia’ai (SDGs 1 & 2), ma unaia avanoa tutusa (SDG 10). O le sini o lenei fa’amoemoe o le una’ia o faiga pa’aga e fa’aleleia ai avanoa i maketi, fa’atuputupula’ia tupe maua, fa’ateleina le saogalemu o mea’ai, ma fetuunaiga talafegai e tetee atu i suiga o le tau.
O Iuni 2024 na faailoa ai i le FAO le fia auai o Samoa i lenei polokalame taua. O le a folasia e le Afioga ia La’aulialemalietoa le Fuafuaga a Samoa i atinae mo tupe teu faafaigaluega (Investment Plan). O le Fuafuaga, o lo’o taula’i i le fa’aleleia o atinae NIU, KOKO, ma le TALO, e tusa lona aofa’i ma le $26 miliona tala Amerika, e unaia ai faiga faatoaga fa’aonaponeiaina, fa’aleleia o tekonolosi o gaosi oloa, fa’atuputupula’ia avanoa i maketi talafeagai, ma fa’aitiitia ai le mativa e ala i le fa’atupuina o avanoa faigaluega ma le fa’atuputupula’ia o tupe maua mo faifa’ato’aga laiti.
O le a auai le Afioga i le Minisita ma lana aumalaga i ni fonotaga ma paaga taua, e aofia ai taitai o le FAO, IFAD, UNCDF, WFP, le Faletupe a le Lalolagi, ma paaga tau atina’e mai Niu Sila ma Ausetalia, e talanoaina vaega talafeagai mo le atinaeina ma le unaia atili o faatoaga i Samoa, ma le fausia o ni faiga tau taumafa gafataulimaina.
O le auai auai atu o Samoa i lenei fonotaga (FAO World Food Forum ma le Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 2024), o lo’o atagia ai le naunautaiga a le malo e unaia atinae ma faiga tau taumafa, ma fa’aleleia atili le ola manuia o tagata uma o Samoa.
