SAMOA, December 9 - (Monday 9 December 2024, Taumeasnia Island Resort, 6.30-8.30pm)

Reverend Semi Kueva Fa’atoafe

Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo

Afioga Le Mamea Ropati Mualia and Faletua

Ministers of Cabinet

Speaker of the House

Leader of the Opposition

Members of Parliament

Members of the Judiciary

HE Senta Keisuke, Ambassador of Japan

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Talofa and a pleasant good evening to you all.

It is a pleasure for me to attend this evening’s reception to celebrate the successful completion of the diplomatic tour of His Excellency Senta Keisuke, Ambassador of Japan to Samoa and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

This evening Ambassador Senta, provides an opportunity for us to

reflect on the successes of your tenure since your arrival in February

2022, when Samoa was just returning to some normalcy with the

reopening of our borders to international travel following an extensive lockdown due to the COVID pandemic.

Japan immediately joined the coordinated development partners group to assist with Samoa’s gradual economic recovery and ensuring security and resilience against the challenges as we strived to build back better post COVID. There was reprioritization of the existing development cooperation framework to meet the demands of the population across the range of sectors including education, health, security, economic infrastructure and in water resource management. You handed over the Lady Naomi IV ferry in November 2022 and the Police Patrol Boat Tilafaiga in June 2023 confirming your commitment to maritime security and emergency operations. More recently, was the handover of ambulances and firefighting equipment which were put to good use when we hosted the CHOGM.

We have signed important MoUs and Agreements for various

projects. Excellency, your last official duty was the signing of grant

assistance under Japan’s Grant Assistance for the Economic and Social Development Programme for the procurement of a new drilling rig for the Samoa Water Authority valued at approximately SAT 7 million. We had also signed the Exchange of Notes for the new Health Science Campus and resource centre at le Papaigalagala.

Excellency, last year marked the 50 th anniversary of our diplomatic

relations, a milestone that reinforces the stable relations between our two countries despite the unpredictability of the global landscape.

As part of the commemoration of our 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Samoa hosted in January a high level parliamentarian delegation visit led by Honourable Endo Toshiaki a senior Parliamentarian. Soon after, we hosted the visit of Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Ms KAMIKAWA Yoko earlier this year in February.

We also received a senior level visit from the Japanese Ministry of

Justice in support of democratic governance with a reciprocal visit of the ministry of Justice and delegation to Japan. These high-level visits signify trust and mutual respect which are fundamental to strengthening our relations.

This year also marked the 52nd anniversary since the establishment of the JICA volunteer programme in Samoa, an important aspect in our relationship. The deployment of JICA volunteers in critical areas such as education, health, water/sanitation, agriculture etc. has facilitated meeting the skills gaps so pronounced in Samoa. JICA’s 52 years can be best described through the contribution of its volunteer programme and its notable Grassroots for Human Security Programme which has greatly benefited our local communities and NGOs.

These are but a few highlights of your remarkable tenure.

Excellency Senta Keisuke,

On behalf of the people and the Government of Samoa, I thank

you for the collaboration in the past three (3) years and your efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Samoa and Japan.

Congratulations on the successful completion of your tour of duty in Samoa. I wish you well in your future endeavours and may you and your wife have a safe journey back home.

I look forward to meeting your successor for the continuation of

the excellent bilateral relations and partnership nurtured over 50 years between Samoa and Japan for the development and betterment of our two countries and our peoples.

SOIFUA

Photo by Embassy of Japan in Samoa

December 12, 2024