Samoa’s Minister of Trade and Commerce, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell challenged officials of American Samoa and Samoa for more action to realize an economic arrangement to facilitate trade and economic development between the two Samoa’s. Lautafi opened the 4th Two Samoa’s Economic Integration Initiative at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Monday Samoa time. According to Talamua online the minister said he’s hopeful that the meeting will realize an economic arrangement between the two sides, so that they can start on something, “rather than more talks,” Lautafi said, “I believe the time for talks are over. It is now time for action.” “Leave the talk to the politicians – that is their specialty, senior officials take action and I challenge you to do that in this forum.” American Samoa Director of Commence, Keniseli Lafaele told the meeting that the talks have resulted in the flow of commerce between the two countries since the end of 2012 up to now. He said there have been a number of businesses from Samoa setting up shop in American Samoa and but a lot more needs to be done,” Fuiavailili said if there are any issues, these must be brought forward for the meeting to look at. The DOC director told the meeting there’s a sense of urgency as their administration has about six months before the elections in November. “So it’s very important,” he said, “that we produce some solid results, or at least a solid framework for the next government to push our economic integration agenda forward.” The Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Commerce, Peseta Margret Malua agrees there has been some progress such as online bookings for Polynesian Airlines, fisheries, Samoan businesses setting up in American Samoa, and efforts underway to remove tariffs or duty on exports from here to Apia and from Samoa to the territory. Minister Lautafi Purcell said the two Samoa’s have traded and conducted businesses for many years, “yet we have not effectively improved our economic arrangements to facilitate and grow our businesses.” He reiterated, “The Samoa government is committed to an economic arrangement that will create jobs, improve and facilitate transport, provide investment, grow tourism, and even sharing opportunities in education and health as key social drivers in our economies.” Immigration arrangements which were on the communiqué from the last Samoa talks have not been implemented. American Samoa said it would make it easier for business travelers to obtain 14 day permits on arrival here, and there was also mention of doing way with the six month American Samoa Certificate of CI which Samoa has said does not comply with international travel standards. Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale said earlier this year that his office planned to issue a 12 month CI, however this has not happened. Minister Lautafi said, “We cannot expect sustained opportunities with other nations afar, when opportunities between our own two countries have yet to be fully realized.” He urged the officials that if there are any difficult issues, at least make a start with a few easy ones, but at least something has moved forward, from just talking
