MINISTERIAL ADDRESS by the Minister of Works Transport & infrastructure Hon. Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai [22nd March 2025]
Mr. Chairman, Honorable Viliame Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism of Fiji;
Honorable Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga;
Fellow Ministers and Heads of delegations from our neighboring Pacific Communities and your respective delegations;
Distinguished Partners and friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a real privilege to meet you all in person in our 3rd Regional Aviation Ministers meeting as Samoa’s Minister for Civil Aviation.
Samoa remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening our aviation sector. We are dedicated to enhancing the safety, resilience, and efficiency of both our domestic and regional aviation systems. At the same time, we are focused on creating meaningful opportunities to foster the growth and development of our aviation workforce.
We believe in Investing in our people and ensuring that our regulatory frameworks are robust, modern, and fit for purpose, fundamental to achieving Samoa’s long-term aviation aspirations.
Samoa believes that strong national systems work best when supported by strong regional cooperation. We reconfirm our commitment to working collaboratively, in line with the vision of the Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy and the Pacific Regional Aviation Strategy.
Together, we can meet the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific aviation and I am proud Samoa is on that journey with our Pacific brothers and sisters.
Samoa is a strong supporter of PASO. We want to see PASO succeed because we recognise the critical role it plays in facilitating safe, secure, and sustainable aviation across the region. Regional mechanisms like PASO are essential, and Samoa will continue to support and engage constructively.
Samoa is encouraged by recent efforts to explore opportunities to create pathways for our people—alongside other States—to be developed and nurtured as the regional regulators of tomorrow. Investing in the Pacific’s own capability will ensure our future is safe and secure.
In terms of the PICASST Amendments, Samoa supports, in principle, the proposed amendments to the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty, in line with our prior endorsement at RAMM2 in 2022, Samoa, is currently engaged in our domestic review process and look forward to formally confirming our position in due course.
We remain committed to playing an active role in regional aviation collaboration, while also advancing our national priorities. We look forward to working alongside all of you as partners and friends.
Honourable Chairman, fellow ministers, distinguished delegates, partners, and friends of the Pacific region.
Let me conclude by placing on record Samoa’s deep appreciation to the Forum member states, our respective Partners, and, most importantly, our neighbouring Island States, who assisted Samoa in hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024.
Your unwavering support through the secondment of personnel for logistics and overall aviation security at the airport, venues, accommodations and general operations allowed Samoa to successfully host the meeting as a true Pacific CHOGM.
That, Mr. Chairman, is what the Pacific Way and True Regionalism are all about.
Fa’afetai tele lava and soifua.
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88Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Samoa and 87 others
