World Bank Regional Vice President Meets with Prime Minister

World Bank Regional Vice President Meets with Prime Minister

New opportunities for Pacific collaboration discussed

Apia, Samoa, February 21, 2015 – Prime Minister Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi will meet Saturday with Axel van Trotsenburg, the World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, to discuss opportunities to deepen the important working relationship between the World Bank and the government of Samoa.

Mr. van Trotsenburg and a small team of World Bank officials will spend two days meeting with senior representatives from the government, NGOs and the Samoa Chamber of Commerce before visiting four projects on the island of Upolu.

“The World Bank stands ready as long-term partner in action to continue its support for Samoa and the broader Pacific region,” van Trotsenburg said. “This visit is part of our ongoing dialogue with the region as we work together to find new ways of effectively managing the many common challenges faced by the World Bank’s Pacific partners.”

The World Bank currently has a portfolio of 11 projects in Samoa for a total commitment of $184.4 million (including co-financing and trust fund contributions). The projects support development in agriculture adaptation, resilience to climate change and natural disasters, road infrastructure, aviation and public financial management.

The visit also will provide an opportunity for Mr. van Trotsenburg to consult on a planned report titled Pacific Possible that will analyze key development opportunities with significant potential for long-term and robust impact. The project will cover six focus areas including: tourism, ocean resources, knowledge economy, labor mobility, working together, and threats.

Pacific Possible will examine the potential increases in income and living standards that could be achieved through regional policies supported by Pacific Island countries, along with partners around the broader Pacific Rim (Australia, Japan, Korea and others).

“Pacific Possible will aim to provide sustainable recommendations that can deliver transformational differences to smaller Pacific Island countries such as Samoa,” van Trotsenburg explained. “The World Bank has experience at using data and analysis to produce reports on development options in countries including China and Vietnam – Pacific Possible will apply this approach to the challenges facing Pacific Island countries.”

ENDS

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