24 Sep 2012

Inter-Samoa talks to be held

5:49 am on 24 September 2012

Leaders from American Samoa and Samoa will meet next month in Pago Pago for the first time in six years.

Discussions will centre on immigration, trade, agriculture and the environment.

The inter-Samoa talks were begun more than 20 years ago under a memorandum of understanding signed between the then Governor A.P Lutali and Prime Minister Vaai Kolone.

Successive governments and administrations have continued the talks, which are usually held annually and Samoa and American Samoa take turns hosting them.

The last talks were held in 2006 but department level cooperation has continued.

Officials of the Department of Commerce, the Governor's Office and the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce are drawing up an agenda for the talks.