13 May 2022, Apia – Today marks the 26th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands in Samoa. Opened on 13 May 1996, the Office was set with an ambitious goal in mind – to coordinate the work of FAO in 14 countries and territories, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and Tokelau as an Associate Member. Inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Tonga, the Honourable Baron Vaea, the office was sited and remains in Samoa’s capital, Apia. After 26 years of dedicated service, FAO Pacific has grown into an important technical and knowledge hub always ready to effectively address agriculture and development priorities in the Pacific.
On the occasion of the anniversary, Her Excellency Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, the Prime Minister of Samoa, highlighted the crucial role FAO plays in the region:
“I congratulate the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific on reaching this milestone and this anniversary of 26 years since its establishment in Samoa in 1996. I acknowledge with appreciation its role as a technical hub supporting 14 member countries in the Pacific in developing, overseeing and implementing programmes to address efficient, inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food systems for all Pacific peoples.”
In addition, His Excellency Hon. La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa, commented on the existing strong partnership between FAO and Samoa’s Government:
“FAO has been a long-standing partner to Samoa and other 14 Pacific Islands countries and territories. Today on the 26th anniversary of FAO’s Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands in Apia, Samoa, we acknowledge with gratitude the contribution, financial support and technical guidance of FAO.”
FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Ms Xiangjun Yao, stressed the importance of strategic partnerships and evidence-based actions, for the betterment of the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock and other sectors in the region:
“We are proud of our fruitful collaboration with various partners and stakeholders to effectively address food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development priorities in the Pacific. We specifically appreciate the hospitability and support given by the Samoan Government as our host. We are excited to continue providing support to the Pacific for many more anniversaries to come.”
However, the FAO story in the Pacific did not start in 1996. Instead, it goes all the way into the 70s when the first Pacific countries started joining FAO, including Fiji (8 November 1971), Papua New Guinea (8 November 1975) and Samoa (12 November 1979). They were followed by Tonga (7 November 1981), Vanuatu (7 November 1983), Cook Islands and Solomon Islands who both joined FAO on 11 November 1985, as well as Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau (12 November 1999), Kiribati (15 November 1999), Nauru (2 November 2001), Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu (29 November 2003).
With its invaluable technical expertise and in-country presence all over the Pacific, FAO remains a key partner in the Pacific countries’ efforts to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry, and fishery practices.
To celebrate the milestone, Ms Yao has invited the public to explore “FAO in the Pacific: 2021 Annual Report” which presents the results achieved by FAO-led projects and programmes last year under various thematic clusters, including climate change, emergencies, food security and nutrition, forestry, livestock, and fisheries and aquaculture. The report also captures how, throughout 2021, FAO’s Office in the Pacific continued to adapt its programmes to respond to the challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Ms Yao, a lot has been achieved but there is still have a long way to go:
“Looking ahead, we are excited to continue fostering partnerships in the Pacific to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.”