- A grant of $20 million by ADB will help Samoa cope with the impact of COVID-19.
- ADB’s grant of $20 million will help strengthen Samoa's health sector to respond to an outbreak of COVID-19.
- Women, the elderly, and the unemployed will also benefit from economic stimulus measures from ADB’s $20 million grant.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $20 million grant to help Samoa respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The grant will help fund measures to upgrade Samoa’s health such as upgrading isolation rooms in hospitals, strengthening quarantine areas, and procuring medical supplies. It will also help train frontline workers to prevent infections.
It will also support the government’s economic stimulus package which will provide benefits to the unemployed, higher pensions for the elderly, and lower electricity tariffs for businesses.
Transcript
Samoa is free of COVID-19 but ADB is helping to prepare should that change.
A $20 million grant from ADB will boost Samoa’s health sector with health-screening areas, medical supplies, and training for frontline workers.
The program will also support Palau’s economy via power subsidies for the critical hospitality industry, topped-up pensions for the elderly, and cash transfers for all Samoans.
Sili Epa Tuioti, Samoa Minister of Finance
I think across all sectors we have a very dynamic and open relationship with ADB. And I feel that this relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength.
ADB is committed to the people of Samoa and combating the impacts of COVID-19.
