The Government has officially opened two roads in the villages of Fogatuli and Utuloa Asau in Savai'i with the Minister for Works and senior officials witnessing the occasion.

The Minister for Works Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai, emphasised the importance of the two new projects in his speech at the opening.

"The new road has been upgraded and built to include drainage for water to flow during the rain," Olo said at Fogatuli on Thursday.

Local firm FICO Construction Ltd constructed the road at the cost of $372,139.43 with work on the new project commencing 19 January 2021.

The recently opened road 1 kilometer long and 4.5 meters wide road was funded by the Government of Samoa.

Olo expressed his thanks to the Alii and Faipule of the village as well as the FICO Construction Ltd for their work in building the new road at Fogatuli.

A road at Utuloa Asau was opened on the same day construction work had started in May this year.

"The work had commenced in the month of May 2021, and was completed in September 2021," Olo said in his address.

He said that the projects are a testament of the Government's framework to provide equal opportunities for everyone in the country.

According to the Minister, the road was constructed and upgraded by the Handymen Contractors Co. Ltd at a cost of $651,295.31.

The road at Asau is 1.5 kilometers in length and 4.5 meters wide.

Olo had also emphasised that these developments are also beneficial for the health of the people to enable them to exercise to become healthy.

He had also acknowledged the work of the leaders in the community in terms of their work to develop the country.

"I would like to thank handymen Contractors Co. Ltd. for the good work they have done, especially the Land Transport Authority in supervising this projecting," Olo said.