Mr Smith’s Office: Courtney Hoogen 02 6277 7500 or 0488 244901
Departmental : (02) 6261 1555
MEDIA RELEASE
Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
M E D I A R E L E A S E
AA 36 – 09
4 June 2009
VISIT TO SAMOA
Today I am in Apia on my first visit to Samoa.
This morning, I met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoli’ai Sailele Malielegaoi and Deputy Prime
Minister and Trade Minister Misa Telefoni.
These meetings allowed me to discuss the impact of the global recession on Samoa and to emphasise
the importance of the Partnership for Development which Samoa and Australia signed at last year’s
Pacific Islands Forum. We were also able to share views on this year’s Forum which is to be hosted by
Australia in August.
I also met Samoa’s Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Edi and discussed major
issues affecting Samoa and the Pacific more broadly.
Later today, Prime Minister Tuilaepa and I participated in a ground breaking ceremony for the new
Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Headquarters in Apia where I announced that Australia
would provide an additional $4 million for education in Samoa.
Half of this money will be used to pay the school fees for Samoan children whose parents are facing
financial hardship because of the impact of the global recession on Samoa’s economy.
The other $2 million will be used to improve Samoa’s technical and vocational training, teacher
retention and education for children with disabilities.
These two areas have been identified as urgent priorities by the Samoan Government and link to the
commitments by both Governments under the Samoa Australia Partnership for Development.
Australia has already committed $10 million over six years to help Samoa meet its education priorities
including the construction of the education department’s new headquarters.
NEWS 
