Apia, Samoa – The new director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the Pacific region, Ms. Bidisha Pillai, presented her credentials to the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, Honourable Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. Based in Fiji, Ms Pillai serves as the Director for the Pacific Sub Regional Office for UNFPA, covering 14  Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs)  including Samoa. 

During their meeting, they reaffirmed the long-term cooperation between the Government of Samoa and UNFPA, and discussed commitments to the realization of the global agenda for sustainable development and the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) Programme of Action.  In a demonstration of shared priorities, both parties restated their firm commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health and  empowering women and young people across the Pacific region.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa congratulated Ms. Pillai on her new role and expressed her appreciation for UNFPA's significant contributions to the protection and empowerment of women and girls including the adolescents and marginalized groups within Samoa.

Ms. Pillai emphasized UNFPA’s long-standing collaboration with Samoa and reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to support the Government of Samoa’s development priorities, particularly in the areas of gender equality, population and development, and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. 

During her first visit to Samoa, Director Pillai held meetings with prominent Samoan government officials. These included the Chief Executive Officers of the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Women, Community & Social Development, and Education and Culture. She also met with senior representatives from the Ministry of Health,  the National University of Samoa, Samoa Red Cross Society, and UNFPA’s donor partners based in Apia, including the H.E. Australian High Commissioner and team, the H.E. New Zealand High Commissioner and the World Bank Liaison Officer.