His Excellency Mr. Viktor Vavricka presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at an official ceremony held at Vailele.
Ambassador Vavricka is accredited as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Samoa, with residence in Wellington, New Zealand.
Samoa and Switzerland established diplomatic relations on 1 August 1981. Since then, both countries have worked together in multilateral forums, sustainable development, and climate change efforts.
Ambassador Vavricka reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for Samoa and the Pacific region, referencing shared priorities including development cooperation and the role of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Head of State welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged Switzerland’s contributions to international development, particularly initiatives aligned with Samoa’s priorities. He also recognised the ongoing support from Honorary Consul Mrs. Sylvie Salanoa through local small grant projects.
Ambassador Vavricka holds a licentiate in Law from the University of Zurich and joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 2002. He has served in senior roles including Head of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Section and the Asset Recovery Task Force. His diplomatic experience includes postings in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Germany, and most recently as Ambassador to New Zealand with cross-accreditation to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. He also serves as Consul General to American Samoa.
