The establishment of three new Government Ministries is reflected in the new financial year work plan with the allocation of $18 million to start operations. 

The Appropriation Bill 2024-2025 of $1.15 billion main budget tabled in Parliament last week gave a breakdown on funding for the; Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Ministry of Lands and Survey and the Samoa Exports Authority. 

In his budget address, the Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai said to effectively capture the whole of Government lands under one framework, a new Ministry of Lands and Survey will be established effective July 2024 with the separation of related functions from the existing Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 

Lands under the Samoa Land Corporation (SLC) and the Samoa Trust Estates Corporation (STEC) will be transferred to this new Ministry in the following financial year once the winding up process by the Ministry of Public Enterprises is completed.

A total of $8.5 million is budgeted for the Ministry of Lands and Survey showing $2.9 million on the Ministry’s output and $5.6 million for transactions on behalf of the State. 

The new Ministry of Sports and Recreations will also be established in the new financial year.

Lautimuia told Parliament it is also expected that the Samoa Sports Facilities Authority will be winded up with functions to be merged into this new Ministry in the following financial year. 

The M.S.R. has a budget of $8.2 million which includes $2 million provided by the Ministry, $3.2 million going towards the third party outputs which is a government grant to the S.S.F.A. and $2.9 million for transactions on behalf of state. 

In addition, the Samoa Exports Authority (S.E.A.) Bill is currently under consultation for establishment in the new financial year.

According to the main budget that has been referred to Parliamentary committee, a sum of $1.2 million is allocated for establishment of S.E.A.