ADB

“This project is transforming Apia Port into a safer, more secure, and greener international gateway,” said ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez.

“Resilient, efficient ports are critical elements of transportation links and supply chains in the Pacific and this new tugboat will assist vessels in Apia Port with fast, safe, and smooth berthing and unberthing operations.”

The Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o and ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez signed the agreement Thursday, which will fund assessments, planning, and capacity building to implement land transport projects.

ADB is providing $5 million from its Asian Development Fund for the grant, while the Government of Samoa is contributing $500,000.

At the virtual signing ceremony, Samoa’s Minister of Finance and ADB Governor Sili Epa Tuioti signed both grant agreements sourced from ADB’s Asian Development Fund.

The $10 million contingent disaster-financing grant will help strengthen Samoa’s resilience to disasters by natural hazards and health-related emergencies.

The project agreement with the Land Transport Authority, for the $40 million grant, which will fund the upgrade of one of Samoa’s most important roads, was signed by Minister of Works, Transport, and Infrastructure Tapunu’u Papaliitele Unasa Niko Lee Hang.

The total financing of $13.3 million comes from ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund and comprises $1 million for the Cook Islands; $1.5 million for Kiribati; $630,000 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI); $1.03 million for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); $1 million for Palau; $3 million for Papua New Guinea; $1.5 million for Samoa; $1.5 million for Solomon Islands; $630,000 for Tuvalu; and $1.5 million for Vanuatu.

The ADB's Pacific Urban Update 2020 report details a swathe of urban infrastructure projects that are planned or under way across the region.

ADB Pacific urban division director Jingmin Huang said the report showed how the bank was partnering with island governments, private sector and donor partners.

"And also, this report is very good to help us better understand our position in urban development and then based on that it would help to guide our future development direction," she said.

RNZ reports SOE portfolios in eight Pacific countries examined contribute only 1.8% to 12% of gross domestic product, despite having very large asset bases, ongoing government cash transfers, and monopoly market positions.

The ADB said productivity levels of the SOEs were also well below that found in developed countries.

But the Bank noted some successes in pursuing commercially-oriented reforms.

It said that over the past 14 years Solomon Islands has improved significantly, with Tonga also doing better.

But the report by the Asian Development Bank also shows the region is not doing enough to capitalise on the rapid expansion of its Asian neighbours.

Emma Veve is the Director of the ADB's Pacific Department and she says Pacific countries must do more to encourage innovation and generate wealth.

“ADB’s energy operations in the Pacific aim to boost energy security, support low-carbon growth and help expand access to modern energy services,” said Michael Trainor, Energy Specialist in ADB’s Pacific Department.

“Our energy policy rests on promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, capacity building, and energy sector reform.”