Handover Ceremony of Equipment for Enhanced Border Management through Cooperation with IOM (September 26, 2025)
2025/9/29
Ambassador Suzuki with Deputy CEO Fiso, MPMC
Ceremony Participants
On 26 September 2025, the Embassy of Japan held a handover ceremony at the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Conference Room for the IOM Project to Strengthen Border Control and Respond to Infectious Diseases in Pacific Island Countries.
Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, H.E. Mr. Ryotaro Suzuki, officially handed over the final batch of equipment to the Government of Samoa, completing this three-year project (2022–2025) with a total budget of USD 838,600 for Samoa.
Items handed over include:
・11 new passport scanners (full replacement of outdated units)
・12 workstation sets (PCs and monitors for immigration counters)
・Basic furniture and operational equipment for the newly refurbished seaport office
・25 sets of magnifying loupes and UV lights for passport/visa examination
・Uniforms for all 38 immigration officers
・Immigration system upgrade completed in August 2025, introducing eight major new functions such as Interpol database access, online visa system, Advance Passenger Information, integrated passport issuance, and e-dashboard reporting
This equipment will strengthen Samoa’s border security, modernize immigration operations, and enhance preparedness against future health threats. It also aligns with Samoa’s National Security Policy (Pillar 1: Sovereignty, Border Security, Maritime Security, and Transnational Crime) and the Samoa Development Pathway’s outcome on Security and Trusted Governance.
Japan is proud to stand with Samoa and will continue to work closely with IOM and the Government of Samoa to build a safer and more resilient Pacific.
Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, H.E. Mr. Ryotaro Suzuki, officially handed over the final batch of equipment to the Government of Samoa, completing this three-year project (2022–2025) with a total budget of USD 838,600 for Samoa.
Items handed over include:
・11 new passport scanners (full replacement of outdated units)
・12 workstation sets (PCs and monitors for immigration counters)
・Basic furniture and operational equipment for the newly refurbished seaport office
・25 sets of magnifying loupes and UV lights for passport/visa examination
・Uniforms for all 38 immigration officers
・Immigration system upgrade completed in August 2025, introducing eight major new functions such as Interpol database access, online visa system, Advance Passenger Information, integrated passport issuance, and e-dashboard reporting
This equipment will strengthen Samoa’s border security, modernize immigration operations, and enhance preparedness against future health threats. It also aligns with Samoa’s National Security Policy (Pillar 1: Sovereignty, Border Security, Maritime Security, and Transnational Crime) and the Samoa Development Pathway’s outcome on Security and Trusted Governance.
Japan is proud to stand with Samoa and will continue to work closely with IOM and the Government of Samoa to build a safer and more resilient Pacific.