The possibility of Starkist Samoa and other canneries shifting operations to Samoa is once again being talked about after Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi declared that the Asau Port in the big island of Savaii will be developed into an international port.
A press release from the governments Press Secretariat quoted Tuilaepa saying that funding to widen and deepen the Asau channel has been secured.
“To that effect, elevating Asau channel to international standards spells economic benefits for the Big Island and for the country,” said Tuilaepa.
The existing wharf was built in the 1960s soon after Independence to accomodate the expected traffic from a logging operation by an American company, Potlach, which moved into full production early 1970.
In the last decade, government has engaged with the American Samoa based cannery.
StarKist Samoa to develop the channel and the dock as a location for a possible fish processing plant and transshipment facility, but it never amounted to anything according to the government press release.
Tuilaepa said that the potential for investors to lease lands for business developments and tourist accomodation facilities cannot be discounted.
“And it will translate to new jobs and fresh cash injected into the economy, not just Asau but across the board”.
