New Apia wharf 60 percent funded

The Samoan prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says donors have committed about 60 percent of the funding needed for Apia's proposed new wharf.

During a budget debate in parliament he said studies showed Vaiusu Bay, 16 kilometres out of the capital, was the best spot for the wharf which had been mooted since the 1970s.

According to Tuilaepa, consultations will start when funding for the large project is secured.

He said the government did not want to take up soft loans to build the new port which is why it was taking a while to secure grant funding.