12 Mar 2013

Samoa ministry CEO says economy needs investment and employment creation

9:39 am on 12 March 2013

The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour says a lack of investment and employment creation is holding back Samoa's economy.

Auelua Samuelu Enari says the Government needs more information systems to address problems with labour in Samoa.

He says the employment gap left by the regional seasonal employment scheme in Australia and New Zealand is compensated by the remittance payments that come back, but he hopes the scheme can be strengthened by including it in the PACER Plus agreement.

Mr Enari says it's part of the ongoing negotiations with Australia and New Zealand.

"Our issue from the Pacific Islands is that because the RSE is an initiative by New Zealand and Australia, and they can take it out at any time, it depends on the political will of the Government of the day. But if we put it in like a part of the agreement, any successor of that arrangment would need to be negotiated."

The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour Auelua Samuelu Enari.