Samoan diplomat Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia has been appointed to lead the newly established Samoa High Commission to Fiji. 

The former Samoan Ambassador to the United Nations in New York left the country this month to take up his new role in Suva.

The High Commissioner's mission is to serve as Samoa’s official representative and be the point of contact with all the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum and regional institutions. 

The High Commission office also provides counselling services to Samoan students at regional institutions based in Fiji as well as provide consular services to Samoans living in the region as well as travelers to Samoa.  

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, briefly spoke about the new High Commission office in Fiji during Parliament on Wednesday.

He said Samoa’s continuous participation and appointment on international bodies and agencies enables the country to promote its national interests and maintains good relations with overseas partners. 

Tuilaepa also announced the approval of the establishment of a diplomatic mission in Geneva. 

Ali’ioaiga did not respond to queries sent to him via email regarding his new appointment. 

Under the estimated budget 2019-2020, a total of $586,000 has been appropriated for the new High Commission office in Fiji.  

In 2019 an estimate of $443,000 was allocated for the student counselor office in Suva, Fiji. 

Ali’ioaiga concluded his tour of duty in New York in February last year after being Samoa's representative to the U.N. for 16 years. 

Over his years of service in the office he held multiple roles that elevated Samoa in the international forum. 

These included being a former board member of the Small Island Development States (S.I.D.S.) on the Green Climate Fund Board for three years. 

The senior diplomat has also been credited with bringing the 3^rd S.I.D.S. conference to Samoa in 2014. 

Ali’ioaiga was also Samoa’s political focal point to the Global Environment Facility (G.E.F.), the representative of S.I.D.S. on the Bureau of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (U.N.F.C.C.C.), and the Chairman of the Pacific Island Forum Group in New York twice.