Talofa lava. Good morning and Happy New Year to you all. Thank you very
much for inviting me to be here today.
2021 is a special year for many reasons. Firstly because we surely all hope that
it will bring some optimism and opportunities to recover from this pandemic
and to rebound from its effects. Also, significantly for Australia, at the end of
March we will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and
Samoa, an important milestone in our bilateral relationship. Throughout that
time education has been a key pillar of our relationship, and today’s ceremony
marks another chapter in our long partnership with the Ministry of Education,
Sports and Culture to deliver quality education and achieve better learning
outcomes for the children of Samoa. What a great way to start the new year!
This education sector printing building is an important asset to improve the
standard of education in Samoa by increasing access to quality learning and
assessment materials, such as books, worksheets, and exam papers – all crucial
components for students and educators alike – even as we move to a more
digital age.

I would like to acknowledge the project management team here at MESC; the
design engineers and supervisory team from Kramer Ausenco; our contractor,
All Electrical; and the people and Government of Japan for donating the
printing machines and equipment.
I know that there have been multiple challenges from the outset of this project
including several lockdowns due to the measles epidemic and then COVID-19
which delayed the construction as well as the delivery of materials from
overseas. However, today is a testament to the resilience of our teams to
complete this project in difficult circumstances. Malo lava!
As we continue to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19, the pandemic
serves as a reminder that many problems are perhaps best solved through
partnerships and this project is a good example of that. We have very much
enjoyed working in close collaboration with Japan on this project and hope
that there will be other opportunities.
Australia remains committed to supporting the education sector in Samoa. It is
a critical area under our COVID-19 Development Response Plan, which is our
strategy for the next two years to assist Samoa to prepare, respond and
recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

We are proud to have supported the education sector in its response to this
pandemic, particularly its increased focus on remote and blended learning. It is
our hope that this state-of-the-art facility will be of great use in achieving that.
In June 2020, we signed a joint funding agreement with the Governments of
Samoa and New Zealand for a commitment of more than $SAT40 million over
the next five years to support the next phase of the Education Sector Support
Program to enhance the quality of education and training and improve learning
outcomes for all, particularly children with disabilities.
Our experience working with the education sector shows that we are more
effective when we work closely with others. Burden sharing, dialogue, and
leveraging expertise will be critical to maximizing our collective impact, and we
will continue to stand with Samoa as we face the pandemic together.
I once again commend the efforts of all who were involved in the planning and
implementation of this project. May the fruits of your endeavors be
demonstrated through better educational outcomes for all the students of
Samoa.
Soifua ma Ia manuia.