Samoa
India and Samoa enjoy friendly and cordial relations. The two countries are bound together by membership of the Commonwealth as well as cooperation in different international fora. Some Indian professionals working with multilateral agencies and a few teachers on bilateral contract are working in Samoa. Government of India is also providing regular economic and technical assistance to Samoa.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- The Centre for Excellence in Information Technology funded by MEA, Govt of India and set up by C-DAC at School of Maritime, National University of Samoa in Apia has become functional in November 2019 with the deployment of two personnel from C-DAC. Four master trainers from Samoa have also undergone Advanced IT training at CDAC and obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Computing (PG-DAC) & Post Graduate Diploma in IT Infrastructure, Systems and Security.
- Twenty ITEC slots are being offered to Samoa and it is keenly availing of the offer in recent years, particularly in the field of Information Technology, small scale enterprises, financial management, and other areas of mutual interest. Fifteen slots were availed by Samoa in 2018-19. However, the utilisation in 2019-20 was only 8 slots because of Samoa’s measles epidemic and nil in 2020-21 because of Covid-19 pandemic.
- Samoan diplomats have also attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) organised by FSI.
- “Sagar Amrut Scholarships” scheme for the PIC countries was announced during FIPIC-III summit held in May 2023. Under the scheme India is offering a total of 200 fully funded scholarship slots each year to participants from PIC countries.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- Samoa depends substantially on overseas assistance/aid. At the Pacific Leaders’ Summit held in Fiji in November 2014, India announced increase in the annual Grant-in-Aid for Samoa from USD 125,000 to USD 200,000.
- Samoa Knowledge Society Initiative Project, supported with a grant of USD 1 million by India under the aegis of India-UN Development Partnership Fund has been launched in December 2019. The multi-pronged knowledge initiative will promote knowledge based sustainable development in Samoa by ensuring ease of access to information for all Samoans.
- India gave a cash grant of USD 2,50,000 to Samoa in January 2020 for relief and rehabilitation of victims of the measles epidemic that took of toll of 81 lives and affected 5600 others.
- Construction of a building to house SENESE's Services for children with disabilities and people with hearing difficulties in Samoa under Grant-In-Aid of GoI is under Process.
