Meeting with Samoan Prime Minister

Representatives of the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council led by Vice-President William Blank and Executive Director Frank Yourn and other guests were honoured to have the opportunity to meet in Brisbane on 24 March 2023 with the Prime Minister of Samoa, The Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, who was accompanied by Ms Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer of the Samoan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Excellency Ms Hinauri Petana, High Commissioner of Samoa to Australia. The Prime Minister discussed with participants a range of bilateral business and investment issues including how Australian companies can form partnerships with Samoan businesses for mutual benefit and growth.  They also discussed opportunities for collaboration in supporting the Commonwealth Business Conference which will be held in 2025 in Samoa when Samoa hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2024.  The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council expressed interest in arranging a business mission to Samoa later in 2023.  The Prime Minister was also briefed on planning by the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council to hold a Pacific-wide business and government conference in Brisbane in September 2023 on Developing Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure In The Blue Pacific.