The Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara
Plinkert arrived in Samoa today to present her credentials to the Government of Samoa.
SVSG was humbled when Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert requested a visit to our Nofotane Shop in
between her important engagements in Samoa. Ms Pirjo Liisa Heikkila, Head of Political and Press at the
European Union Delegation for the Pacific, accompanied Her Excellency on her visit.
Her Excellency was given a tour of the Nofotane Shop located in SVSG’s main office in Apia. She purchased
sourvenir gifts from the Nofotane Shop to take home as a token of her short time in Samoa and to support
the economic empowerment of women.
The Nofotane Shop opened in June 2021 to sell products made by Nofotane women under the Nofotane
brand. In June 2022, SVSG launched the Nofotane online shop to meet increasing international demand for
products, especially during border closures due to the pandemic.
These initiatives would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the European Commission’s funding through
its Civil Society Support Programme II for the Sustainable Income Generation & Self Employment of
Nofotane Women Project (2020-2022).
“We thank our special visitors, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert and Ms Pirjo Liisa Heikkila, for supporting
our talented, dedicated and hardworking Nofotane Women. Many of these women who make 100%
crafted, handwoven and handmade Nofotane products are survivors of domestic violence”, said Siliniu Lina
Chang, SVSG President.