The Regional Relations Division is responsible for the provision of high quality advice and support to the Minister and Government on regional relations as well as on the progression of regional priorities to promote and advance deeper regionalism. In particular, the Division provides policy advice and representation activities towards a regional orientation in the formulation of a common foreign policy for the Blue Pacific in line with the strategic objectives of the Framework for Pacific Regionalism (FPR). The Division also facilitates and ensures Samoa’s active participation in regional work consistent with Samoa’s national sustainable development priorities and commitments.
Through the work of the Division, the Ministry works across the Pacific through Pacific regional organisations. There are eight regional organisations in the Pacific that make up the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP):
- Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
- Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC)
- Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
- Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
- South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)
- University of the South Pacific (USP)
- Pacific Power Association (PPA)
- Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO)
The Division also engages closely with relevant government ministries and agencies of Samoa in the management of Samoa’s membership of and foreign affairs within the work and mandate of each regional organisation, with a focus on political/economic relations, social relations, as well as environmental protection.
The Division currently has a team of three employees.
