Samoa's Agriculture Minister has confirmed American Samoa's Director of Agriculture and a delegation were in the country recently to follow up on the Atoa Samoa talks earlier this year. 

La'auli Leuatea Schmidt confirmed the meeting with Solialeaalofitagaloa Iosua Mutini and his delegation, when speaking on the live-televised Soalepule programme on EFKS TV over the weekend. 

He also said the management of the Pago Pago-based tuna canning Starkist Company accompanied the Agriculture Director to discuss more employment opportunities for the people of Samoa. 

"We met with Solia and his team who traveled to Samoa to follow up on some of the discussions we made during the Atoa Samoa meeting," La'auli said. 

"There were plans in assisting our government in implementing a feed mill intended for the production and storage of animal food for Samoa, so Solia and his team were here to discuss on how we can work collaboratively on that.

"As they have fish meal from the tuna factory they have in American Samoa this can assist and provide us with shipments of fish meal for this proposal."

According to the Minister, the delegation also met with the Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour, Leatinu'u Wanye So'oialo to discuss more employment opportunities.

"We discovered that about 90 per cent of the people being employed by Starkist at the moment are Samoans and there's still a need for more people from Samoa to work at the factory," La'auli said. 

"The good thing about this proposal is that the environment and lifestyle is similar to what we have here in Samoa. If our people travel to American Samoa to take up these opportunities, it will be like traveling within Samoa. 

"The only difference is that it's good money as the the rate is quite good."

He then spoke about the challenges Samoa continue to face with the seasonal working scheme which is currently being reviewed by the current Government. 

"I understand the Ministry (M.C.I.L.) is still trying to find solutions to the problems that have surfaced from this scheme and there are still concerns about more people leaving the country and leaving their professions for the R.S.E. scheme. 

"My main concern is that more and more people are taking up R.S.E. work including those with good jobs here in Samoa. This will greatly affect our plans with the developments of our districts through the grants given to the constituencies across the country."

The importation of fish meals, according to the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, will also assist the Government with the establishment of a "feed mill factory" for Samoa. 

"This will be a place in which stock feeds are prepared," he said. 

But that's not all, La'auli also revealed that there are also discussions about lifting the ban on the export of meat from Samoa to American Samoa. 

"Everything will be finalised in October. But we are grateful that the Director of the American Samoa Agriculture Department as well as the Manager of Starkist paid us a visit to follow up on what was discussed during the meeting in July of this year. 

"As we said before, we aren't just going to talk and discuss and not put it into action. It's time to walk the talk and we will not be repeating what the former administration had done which was just too much talk and no action."

Last month, Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa declared that her Administration will dedicate its efforts to ensuring the issues discussed by the two Samoa's will be implemented for their benefit.

Her announcement followed their first official meeting with the American Samoa Governor, Lemanu P.S. Mauga and the Fono last week, Fiame confirmed that the leaders of the two countries mutually agreed to have the discussions between the two nations twice every year. 

"This is to follow up on issues we talk about and make sure that they are being executed," Prime Minister Fiame said. 

The leaders of the two Samoa's also agreed that the official name of the formerly known 2 Samoa Talks meeting will now be Atoa o Samoa Executive Meeting. 

Fiame spoke highly of the first official meeting between the leaders of the two nations while also expressing her gratitude to the Governor, the Fono and the people of American Samoa for their hospitality. 

"It's always good to have discussions in order to develop the relationship and also for the development of the two countries but it's more important to follow up on those discussions and put it into action.

"We need to set a strong foundation from these discussions and make sure that we implement the outcomes of these talks for the benefit and development of the two countries."

One of the proposals put forward by the Samoa Government, according to Prime Minister Fiame, is to look at ways Samoan companies can set up branches in American Samoa. There were also discussions on the possibility of Samoan-owned banks setting up branches and outlets in American Samoa.