Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula leads a high level delegation from American Samoa attending the Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity Summit at the East-West Center in Honolulu.
Co-hosted by the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the forum is designed to translate regional policy into concrete economic outcomes through direct engagement with private sector investors.
According to a press release, Governor Pulaali’i emphasized that the mission in Honolulu is to build the foundational trust necessary for high-impact investment, ensuring that by working alongside Pacific neighbors and the private sector, the administration secures a prosperous future for American Samoa and the broader region.
The delegation is focused on nine key roundtable areas aimed at strengthening American Samoa’s economic resilience and fostering new developments with neighboring Pacific Island Nations.
CEO of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority, Folasaitu Sorepa Fata Thomas, is leading the territory’s efforts in Telecommunications, AI & Digital Economy, as well as Infrastructure and Supply Chain resilience. A cornerstone of these discussions is the Google Le Vasa Cable project, which CEO Thomas is highlighting as a vital component of regional digital infrastructure to provide the critical redundancy required for a modern economy. Furthermore, the delegation is exploring shared economic developments with other Pacific Island Nations, such as the Cook Islands, to enhance collective bargaining power across the South Pacific.
This regional cooperation was further solidified in a high-level meeting held Monday between the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Governor Pulaali’i, Executive Financial Advisor Brett Butler, and Assistant Director of Port Administration Michael McDonald. Butler is representing American Samoa in Energy Security and Banking & Financial Services, while McDonald is leading discussions on Infrastructure and Critical Minerals, focusing on modernizing the territory’s logistics and port hubs. Additionally, Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia, Director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, is engaging in the Tourism roundtable to promote cultural and eco-friendly growth.
Meanwhile key cabinet members are conducting high-level meetings on behalf of the administration in Washington DC. Lina Petaia, Director of the American Samoa Department of Commerce, remains in the nation’s capital to meet with the U.S. Department of Commerce, while Barney Sene, Director of Port Administration is meeting with the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
High-level bilateral engagements continue on the sidelines of the summit in Honolulu, including a scheduled meeting between Governor Pulaali’i, CEO Folasaitu, and Executive Financial Advisor Brett Butler with Matson General Manager (New Zealand) Michael Jones.
The ASTCA CEO will also meet with Eric Handa, CEO of AP Telecom. As a global leader in telecom consultancy and fiber optic connectivity, AP Telecom plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between emerging markets and international digital corridors. This critical session with Mr. Handa and Indo-PACOM Director Interagency Coordination Group, Shehzi Khan, are to finalize plans for an Indo-PACOM visit on behalf of the Department of War (DoW) to American Samoa next month, which will be jointly hosted by ASTCA and the Office of the Governor.
