Governor Lolo Moliga held trade, fisheries, tourism and air service talks with the leaders of French Polynesia and Tokelau while in Apia for Samoa’s Independence Day celebrations.
The governor’s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira said the governor’s discussions with Tahiti President Tagaloa Eduard Fricth, centered on tourism and air transportation.
Air Tahiti Nui has plans to launch air service via Samoa to other parts of the Pacific and to the US and European destinations.
Iulogologo said the French Polynesian president expressed an interest in American Samoa being one of the source points for US travelers for their proposed regional service.
The governor also thanked the leader of Tahiti for being sympathetic to American Samoa’s situation with regards to the US Pacific Tuna Treaty.
Iulogologo reported that American Samoa’s delegates to past negotiations between the US and Pacific islands on fisheries, reported that both French Polynesian and Tokelau have spoken in support of American Samoa.
Discussions between the governor and the Ulu o Tokelau, Faipule Afega Gaualofa also discussed fisheries and trade.
Tokelau and American Samoa have an MOU whereby they have agreed to co-operate on matters of mutual interest including fisheries, trade, transportation and environment.
Tokelau also has an MOU with Tri Marine International under which Tokelau pledges to provide fishing access to longline vessels targeting both albacore and tropical tuna, which supply Tri Marine’s Samoa Tuna Processing plant in Atuu.
