30 April 2019 The Honorable Speaker of the House Legislative Assembly of Samoa Independent State of Samoa Dear Mr. Speaker, In accordance with the reporting requirements of the Public Finance Management Act 2001, I am pleased to submit to you the completed Annual Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the period of 1st July 2017 to 30th June 2018. This report documents the activities implemented and achievements by the Ministry within the said financial year, in accordance with its legislations and mandatory functions. Ma le fa’aaloalo lava. ________________________________ Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi PRIME MINISTER and MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE 1 FOREWORD I am happy to present the Annual Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) for the financial year 2017/2018. The report outlines the Ministry’s achievements, initiatives and the key activities carried out during the period in its efforts to implement and perform its functions prescribed under its mandate. The Ministry’s commitments at all levels to address its priorities would not have been possible without the continuous support and assistance of all stakeholders. I acknowledge in particular the stewardship and guidance by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. I also wish to thank all our international development partners represented by both resident and accredited diplomatic missions and intergovernmental organizations for their support and open relations with the Ministry during the 2017-2018 financial year. Your continued cooperation to strengthen our working relationship based on transparency, mutual benefit and accountability is appreciated. We are also grateful to our stakeholders in both the public and private sectors inclusive of civil society and the non-governmental organizations for the support and more importantly your feedback in relation to the work of the Ministry especially in the delivery of our services towards the effective conduct of Samoa’s foreign relations. Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank my Management, Heads of our overseas missions and staff, for without their hard work and dedication, our commitments and many priorities for the 2017-18 financial year would not have been accomplished. Malo le galulue punoua’i! Peseta Noumea Simi CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS: Page FOREWORD BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2 SECTION 1: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Our Mandate 4 Our Functions 4 - 5 Our Vision 5 Our Mission Statement 5 Our Values and Principles 5 SECTION 2: Organization and Management Structure Ministry Structure 5 - 7 SECTION 3: Divisional and Overseas Missions’ Reports Output 1 - Policy Advice to the Minister 8 - 13 Sub Output 2.1 - Ambassador at Large for the Pacific Islands 13 - 14 Sub Output 2.2 - Political, International Relations & Protocol Division 14 - 17 Sub Output 3.1 – Samoa High Commission – Wellington, New Zealand 17 - 34 Sub – Output 3.2 – Samoa Consulate General – Auckland, New Zealand 34 - 36 Sub Output 3.3 - Samoa Embassy – Brussels, Belgium 37 - 40 Sub Output 3.4 - Samoa Permanent Mission to the United 40 - 47 Nations – New York, United States of America Sub Output 3.5 – Samoa High Commission – Canberra, Australia 47 - 51 Sub Output 3.6 - Samoa Government Student Counsellor – Fiji 51 - 52 Sub Output 3.7 Samoa Consulate General - American Samoa 53 - 55 Sub Output 3.8 Samoa Embassy – Tokyo, Japan 56 - 65 Sub Output 3.9 - Samoa Embassy – Beijing, China 66 - 71 Sub Output 3.10 Samoa Consulate General – Sydney, Australia 72 - 78 Output 4 - Scholarships, Training and Bilateral Division (STBD) 78 - 86 Output 5 - Trade Division (TD) 86 - 90 Corporate Services & Overseas Missions Division (CSOMD) 90 - 92 SECTION 4: MFAT COMPARISON DATA Employee Statistics 92 - 101 SECTION 5: MFAT FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MFAT Financial Statement 102 MFAT Appropriation Account 102 - 107 (Schedule 2.10) SECTION 6: Acronyms 108 - 110 3 Section 1: THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE OUR MANDATE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (hereafter called “the Ministry” was officially established on 1 July 2003 under the Ministerial and Departmental Arrangements Act 2003 (hereafter called “the Act”). The Act incorporates the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Trade Division of the former Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry. The Ministry is entrusted with the administration and conduct of Samoa’s foreign relations including trade relations with other nations through its headquarters in Apia, and its Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates abroad. The Ministry is committed to managing Samoa’s international relations to promote Samoa’s national interests and to achieve benefits accruing therefrom for Samoa that are in accordance with the Government’s foreign relations, economic and trade objectives. Samoa currently has established official diplomatic relations with about ninety-seven (97) States and is a full member to over fifty (50) major international/regional organizations. Samoa is a full contracting party to many international treaties, ranging from international security and disarmament to human rights, the environment and climate change to maritime and fisheries issues, and economic/financial cooperation and trade arrangements. The Ministry records, facilitates and advises on Samoa’s accession and ratification of treaties, conventions and agreements. It also carries out depository functions for various regional and international agreements, as required under international law. The Ministry administers the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1978. OUR FUNCTIONS: In carrying out the above Mandate and Mission Statement the Ministry has the following obligations to: Provide policy advice and representation activities towards the management of Samoa’s foreign and trade relations with other countries; Provide policy advice and representation activities related to the management of Samoa’s membership of and foreign affairs and trade interests in international and regional organizations; Provide policy advice and representation activities towards a regional orientation in the formulation of a common foreign policy for the Blue Pacific – one Continent identity in connection with the Pacific Framework for regionalism Represent Samoa’s interest and provision of consular services abroad through the Ministry’s diplomatic Missions based in New Zealand, United States, Australia, Japan, China, American Samoa and Belgium; Develop policies for the administration of long and short term study and training opportunities and advise Government on matters pertaining to scholarship and training schemes available; Formulate, recommend and develop appropriate policies and strategies in consultation with stakeholders on trade policy and trade promotion strategies; Administer Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1978, and the effective interpretation of diplomatic and consular privileges under the Vienna Convention: 4 Provide legal advice on the scope and breadth of engagement of the Ministry in the different arrangements in which it is a partner/stakeholder in relation to the conduct of foreign relations Put in place the requisite guidelines on procedures to be observed and followed in the conduct of foreign relations including processes for accession and ratification of international convention and treaties; Put in place appropriate guidelines for the observance of protocols in the conduct of foreign relations inclusive of guidelines for the whole of government on hosting international meetings Support services to facilitate the operations of the Ministry both at headquarters and our overseas missions involves the securing of necessary financial and human resources, maintenance of an efficient and effective corporate framework, and responsible use of available resources. OUR VISION: Samoa to maintain its role as a regional leader and an active participant in global decision making and to improve trade prospects and opportunities in Samoa. OUR MISSION: To continue to provide high quality and professional policy advice to Government on the management of all aspects of Samoa’s foreign and trade relations. OUR VALUES AND PRINCIPLES: In pursuit of its Mission and Vision, the Ministry is fully committed for its staff to perform with: Professionalism Discretion Honesty Integrity Confidentiality Transparency Accountability Customer focus Gender balance Section 2: ORGANISATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE ORGANISATION STRUCTURE The Ministry has an established career structure, organized into six (6) core Divisions following the approval from the PSC of the restructure proposal in March 2017. The divisions are the International Relations Division (IRD), Protocol Services Division (PSD)), Regional Relations Division (RRD), Bilateral Relations Division (BRD) Trade Division (TD), and Legal Services Division. There is also a Corporate Services & Overseas Mission Division (CSOMD) which provide support services to the core work of the Ministry both locally and for our overseas missions. The Ministry has diplomatic missions in Wellington, Brussels, New York, Canberra, Beijing 5 and Tokyo and Consulate General offices in Auckland, Sydney and American Samoa. It also administers the Office of the Student Counselor at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji plus Honorary Consuls in various parts of the world. For the effective and efficient implementation