"This is one of those, I scratch your back and you scratch mine circumstances," said Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of a partnership with the European Union.
He was responding to a decision by the EU to close its office in Apia and centralise its efforts in a regional office in Fiji.
"The EU has been helping with a lot of development and assistances in Samoa. The biggest ones are the big water tanks that have been installed and will provide water for Faasaleleaga and the many schools they helped fund," he added.
However, the PM says things have been going one-sided for the EU, which would explain why they might lose interest in Samoa and that is his biggest fear.
"We used to export a lot of cocoa into Hamburg, but things have died down because we couldn’t support the market demands there," he said.
"You see things like these depend on us giving them something they need and they will always gladly support us. But if we have nothing to show for their generosity for sure they would rather stick to Africa because of the rich exports they have to offer," he added.
For the export market though, the Ava Samoa has been a big hassle since it was banned, the Prime Minister said.
“It’s back in the market now, but it’s not matching the export needs Samoa has to make.
"The only export we have rising and selling really well in European countries is the virgin oil our Women in Business group is promoting," said Prime Minister Tuilaepa.
"They are doing well with their product but it’s not enough to hold the interest," he added.
The Prime Minister is attending a meeting of the African Caribbean and Pacific group in Papua New Guinea this week where he will be presenting the Pacific’s paper.
He plans to push the Pacific Islands interest in the global market at the meeting.
Meanwhile earlier this month, EU Head of the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs, said the EU is seeking more efficiency and the move will not affect its relationship with Samoa.
Pic: File Opening of EU Office in Apia, Samoa