The Asian Development Bank and the Samoa Government have held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially begin an upgrade of the country's international port.
The project will rehabilitate and upgrade the port in Apia so it can withstand a 100-year storm event and 50-years of sea-level rise.
The redevelopment will include a customs facility with a new container x-ray scanner to enable more effective border management.
A new tug is also being provided.
Gender-responsive green port initiatives will be included to promote clean and sustainable port operations and management.
Apia CBD the capital of Samoa. Photo: RNZI/Koroi Hawkins
The project will also promote the greater participation of women employees in undertaking technical and management roles to operationalise the green port initiatives and multi-hazard disaster preparedness plans.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa gave the keynote address at the event, saying "now is the time to develop resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events and climate change, and we are delighted to partner with ADB in this transformational project."
Financing from the ADB amounts to $US62.26 million, with the Samoa Government contributing $US12.77 million.
The work is being undertaken by various companies from China, New Zealand and the Netherlands.