Agriculture Minister Calls For More Inter-regional Trade
Minister for Agriculture La'auli Leauatea Schmidt.
Photo: Eyespy radio / Bethel Peato
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, La'auli Leauatea Schmidt, is aiming to improve Samoa's relationship with leaders from Small Island Developing States S.I.D.S) in the region, to ensure accessible trade and food supply between them.
La'auli conveyed during an interview with Eyespy Radio on Tuesday that the forum currently underway presents an opportunity for Samoa to learn about sharing expertise and innovation to preserve food.
"Sharing expertise and innovation is one of the important aspects of this event.There's also the notion of adding more produce for all countries in the Pacific to ensure that there is enough food supply for all member nations," he said.
La'auli also added that the Government is trying to construct ways in which Samoa can assist its neighbouring countries in terms of trade.
"I think one example of this is the current trade we have with American Samoa. We supply them with poultry eggs and other meat products.
"One country we hope to partner up with in terms of trade is Vanuatu. They have the best beef here in the Pacific region, and if they agree to trade with us then the quality of beef meat in Samoa will improve.
The 2022 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum.
Photo: Eyespy radio / Bethel Peato
Laauli also said that the Government is looking at starting the "Export Board", which will assist local farmers and cattle owners in exporting their products to foreign countries.
"This new initiative by the Government will assist our local farmers in sending their goods overseas and save them the hassle of trying to export their goods," he said.
The 2022 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum is organised to follow up and build on the global SIDS Solutions Forum of 2021 through identifying country-specific and regional successes (good practices), challenges and next steps within the context of advancing the achievement of the SAMOA Pathway and 2030 agenda in the context of COVID-19 and the 5F crisis (food, fuel, feed, fertilizer, and financing) recovery.
Held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Conference room, this year's forum is guided by the theme "Working together to leave no one behind” as also highlighted by La'auli, who said that they will consider trading and exporting Samoa's products to any and all countries in the Pacific.
The S.I.D.S Solutions Forum will conclude tomorrow (Wednesday), and La'auli hopes that when it does end Samoa will be able to benefit alongside other Pacific countries as they tackle and mitigate factors which hinder food security and production