Pacific.Scoop
By Tupoula Terry Tavita in Apia

Opening the joint World Bank-Asian Development Bank liaison office at Samoa’s Central Bank building last week, managing director Juan Jose DeBoub described Samoa’s economic reforms since 1990 as “very impressive”.

He announced an increase of the bank’s contribution to Samoa from US$18 million to US$40 million.

He said the recent tsunami devastation would have broken the back of any country the size of Samoa, but being the first country to gain independence in the region since 1962 gave it “experience and maturity” to handle such crisis.

Asian Development Bank director Keith Leonard expressed the bank’s sympathies to the loss of lives and destruction following the tsunami.

The ADB provided US$1 million in emergency aid to Samoa immediately after the crisis and has pledged to provide US$26 million in loans.

Leonard and DeBoub reaffirmed the two institutions continued support for Samoa.

Thanking Samoa’s two developing partners, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi welcomed the opening of the liaison office in Apia.

Early bid
“It’s been a long time coming. Samoa put in a bid for the World Bank regional office back in 1986 but missed out to Vanuatu. Now we not only have the World Bank here but also the ADB.

“Furthermore, a Samoan will be in charge of the office.”

The liaison office will be headed by former Treasury acting chief executive Maeva Betham-Vaai, who recently served a stint at the ADB office in Manila.

The Prime Minister said one of the benefits of having the joint ADB-World Bank office in Samoa is that it would allow closer cooperation between government and these two developing partners.

According to Works Minister Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, in the past the government would put in a lot of paperwork only for an application for funds to be declined.

“But now that the two institutions have an office here we can work with, we will have a definitive idea of what is required from our part to access those funds.

“We’re all very happy in the achievement of this milestone.”

DeBoub and Leonard and their entourages toured the affected regions in Falealili and Aleipata last week accompanied by government officials.

Tupuola Terry Tavita is editor of the Samoan government newspaper Savali.