Finland's Ambassador to Samoa, Satu Mattila-Budich has presented her credentials to the Member of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia.

The brief credentials presentation ceremony was held on Thursday morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Samoa and Finland have maintained and enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in August 1999, according to a media release issued by the MFAT.

Samoa continues to benefit from the assistance through the European Union Development Fund supporting regional development assistance programs channelled through the Pacific Islands Forum as well as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

The two countries have also worked collaboratively at the United Nations to advance and address issues of common interests including climate change, the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, peace and security including the attainment of the sustainable development goals. 

Ms. Mattila-Budich said she looks forward to working with the Samoa government to advance relations between the two countries.  

In response, Le Mamea expressed his confidence in the appointment of Ms. Matilla-Budich as the Ambassador of Finland to Samoa, which he said provides opportunities for the two countries to collaborate on matters of mutual interest to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Ms. Matilla-Budich is a career diplomat with a Master of Arts from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.  She has held various senior positions within Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted to Finland’s Embassies in New York, New Delhi, Geneva, Washington DC and Tokyo. 

She was also the Ambassador of Finland to Singapore, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and is currently the Ambassador of Finland to Australia based in Canberra with cross-accreditation to Samoa.