APIA, SAMOA (17 September 2019) — Apia Port, first established in the early 1900s, will soon be a safer, more secure, and greener international gateway after the signing of a grant agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support a project that will transform the Apia Port.
Dubbed the “Enhancing Safety, Security, and Sustainability of Apia Port Project” – the agreement was signed by Samoa’s Minister of Finance and ADB Governor Mr. Sili Epa Tuioti and the Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Subregional Office Mr. Masayuki Tachiiri at a ceremony in Apia.
The project agreement with the Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) was signed by the Minister of Works Mr. Papalii Niko Lee Hang and Mr.Tachiiri. The Minister for Revenue, Mr.Tialavea Seigafo Hunt, witnessed the event.
“Building resilience to climate change, strengthening border security, and boosting trade are key components of the Apia Port project,” said Mr. Tachiiri.
“By 2023, Apia Port will be safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.”
Samoa can be seen as sea-locked, given our geographic isolation from major international markets. Marine connectivity is critical to the Samoa economy, which relies heavily on agricultural exports and the imports of basic goods. Samoa with its population of about 200,000 lies south of the equator and has historically suffered from disasters triggered by cyclones and earthquakes.
The upgrade and rehabilitation plan includes the reconstruction of the damaged breakwater and the construction of a new customs examination facility.
It will also promote environmentally sustainable practices and encourage greater participation of women employees at the Samoa Port Authority.
The Ministry of Finance is the executing agency, while the Ministry for Revenue and Samoa Ports Authority will be the implementing agencies of the project, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.
About ADB:
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the Asia Pacific region.
(1)
