Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa concluded a five-day visit to Australia last week with the signing of a historical bilateral agreement between the two countries.
Fiame was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon her arrival at the Australian parliament, including a 19-gun salute.
The trip was an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two countries, and for Fiame to share some of the challenges that face the Pacific region.
Together with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the two leaders signed the historical Bilateral Partnership Arrangement – O le fala folasia i lo ta Va – covering key areas of cooperation such as climate and disaster resilience, security, economic growth, and human and socio-economic development.
Fiame got the opportunity to travel around the country while she was there and included a visit to the Hansen Orchard in Tasmania to meet with Samoan seasonal workers, to hear their experiences. A Samoa parliamentary delegation to Tasmania will arrive in the coming week as part of the twinning arrangement between Samoa and the Tasmanian parliament for capacity building.
The Prime Minister’s visit also took her to Yulara and Uluru, to hear from First Nations Australians to hear about efforts in promoting indigenous tourism in Australia.
This visit reflected the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring First Nation Australian perspectives are reflected in the country’s foreign policy.
The Prime Minister’s visit concluded in Brisbane, where she met with the Pacific Islands Business Council to hear of connections between Australian businesses and Samoa’s private sector, and opportunities for future investment.
