Hosts embrace opportunity

By Sarafina Sanerivi 05 May 2016, 12:00AM

The 39th Annual Meeting of the Association of Development Financing Institutions for Asia and the Pacific (A.D.F.I.A.P.), held in Samoa is more than just a meeting for the hosts. 

The hosts are Samoa Housing Corporation (S.H.C.), Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.) and the Development Bank of Samoa (D.B.S.).

Chief Executive Officer for the Samoa Housing Corporation, Mata’utia Rula Levi, said hosting the meeting is a dream come true for them. 

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be given the opportunity to host such an important meeting here on our shores,” she said. “It’s a dream come true and as members of A.D.F.I.A.P. we’ve always wanted to host a meeting here in our country.”

Mata’utia believes the benefits of the meeting are far reaching. 

“This is a good way to expose our country to the rest of the world,” she said.

“Our country is a very small country in terms of size and number compared to most of the countries who are here, but this is a great way to tell the world, that size does not matter and that we can do things.”

Mata’utia also believes that with Samoa taking the lead in all other aspects of developments in the Pacific, she also wanted our country to bring the meeting into the Pacific. 

However, Samoa is not the first island country from the Pacific to host an A.D.F.I.A.P. Meeting. Fiji hosted in 2004. 

According to Mata’utia, the request was made for Samoa to host the meeting in 2014 when she attended the A.D.F.I.A.P. meeting in Malaysia.

“And we were thrilled and excited when we were informed that our request had been approved.” 

“We are excited to host this despite all the challenges and all the hard work. We have a good team and we are also grateful to our sponsors.”

Matautia is positive about the outcomes of the meeting.

 “This meeting is very crucial because it had brought more than hundred people from different countries from all around the world all the way here in Samoa. And we are targeting one of the very important issues that are faced by most islands in the South Pacific. 

“Our world, our regions are standing in unity to find solutions to enhance climate change development and resilience. 

“We welcome and embraced the commitment of world leaders at the COP21 held in Paris in November 2015.

We support the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We as Development Financing Institutions play a critical role to support and enhance sustainable development that will secure a better world, a better future for generations to come.

We as financial institutions are the arms of the government in pushing forward the plans and initiatives made by our government in order to develop our nation.”

Matautia extended her sincere gratitude to the Chairman and Board of A.D.F.I.A.P. for allowing Samoa to host.

“Thanks for having faith in us and for approving our request.”

She also extended her gratitude to all the member countries of A.D.F.I.A.P. who have traveled from thousands of miles to be here in Samoa for the meeting. 

“I wish you will all enjoy your stay here in our peaceful and beautiful country.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 05 May 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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