Samoa and P.N.G share

22 February 2016, 12:00AM

 “As neighbours in the Pacific, it makes a lot of sense that we have strong regional ties and shared experiences.”

So said the Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Ministry of Finance, Lavea Tupaimatuna Iulai, when he welcomed senior officials from the Papua New Guinea (P.N.G) Treasury and National Planning and Monitoring Departments, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (P.I.F.S).  

“While Samoa offers our experiences and opens up our systems and processes for sharing and learning, I also look forward to learning from our P.N.G colleagues experience and their systems and processes.” 

Floyd Lala from P.N.G’s Department of National Planning and Monitoring, expressed the appreciation of his government for the Samoa government’s support to P.N.G in sharing their country institutions, systems and policies saying,

“We would like to know, how Samoa has been successful in improving its development and its systems with very limited resources,” Mr. Lala said. 

He noted his strong support for these peer to peer exchanges promoting more exchanges of this sort across other areas and sectors in the Pacific.

“These peer to peer exchanges are an excellent example of the co-ordination and cooperation we speak of when we talk about regionalism in the Pacific,” said the P.I.F.S Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor.  

“Our leaders in 2009 called for the Pacific to find our own solutions to the unique shared challenges in our region.  

“I am grateful to the Government of Samoa for their continuing leadership and commitment to supporting south-south cooperation in the Pacific region. 

“I also commend the Government of P.N.G for their interest and commitment to continuously improve, and to also learn from, its Pacific neighbours.”

The C.E.O of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peseta Noumea Simi, who has previously engaged in three Pacific peer reviews and promoted the Pacific Forum Compact South – south attachments, said: “This is not only a practical implementation of the S.A.M.O.A Pathway’s call for durable and sustainable partnerships for development but, it is also a demonstration of regional cooperation for strengthened regionalism.”

Attached with the Samoa Ministry of Finance are Mr. Lala and Albert Andumukan from the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and Eileen Gini from the Department of Treasury.  

They are supported by Charmina Saili from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

This is the 4th such attachment since May 2014 and the 7th Forum Island Country to benefit from this initiative that is facilitated and cofounded by the P.I.F.S all hosted by the Samoa government. 

 

22 February 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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