PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS OF THE AMBASSADOR OF NORWAY TO SAMOA

[PRESS RELEASE – Thursday 13 March 2025] Her Excellency Anne Grete Riise, presented her Letters of Credence to the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at a Credentials ceremony held this morning at the Official Residence of the Head of State at Vailele, accrediting Her Excellency as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Samoa with residence in Canberra, Australia.

Samoa and Norway have maintained cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1999. The relationship between the two countries is characterised by mutual respect and a shared interest in the attainment of the sustainable development goals. H.E. Riise highlighted the involvement of Norway in the region as a Pacific Island Forum Dialogue Partner since 2021 and is one of the largest contributors to the Green Climate fund, which funded the Integrated Flood Management to Enhance Climate Resilience of the Vaisigano River Catchment Area project for Samoa. H.E Riise expressed her commitment in continuing and further deepening the existing bilateral relations.

Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II reaffirmed the growing collaboration between Samoa and Norway including at the United Nations to advance our common interests. The Head of State also acknowledged Norway’s humanitarian support for Samoa with the deployment of an Emergency Medical Team that consisted of 16 clinicians to assist Samoa during the measles outbreak in 2019. The Head of State expressed his confidence in the appointment of H.E. Anne Grete Riise, which will further bolster the existing friendly relations and will expand areas of mutual collaboration between Samoa and Norway.

Ms Anne Grete Riise joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway in February 1992 and held various positions including as Deputy Director for the High North Section and as Senior Adviser/Analyst in the European Department. Ms Riise was posted to numerous Diplomatic Missions of Norway including in Kiev, Ukraine as Second Secretary; as Second Secretary in Berlin, Germany, as First Secretary in Vienna, Austria and as Minister Counsellor in Warsaw, Poland. In March 2020 to June 2020, Ms Riise worked at the Ministry of Health in the COVID Crises Unit as MFA Liaison. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador of Norway to Australia, she was the Director at the Department for Culture and Protocol Norway at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Photo by the Government of Samoa (Jasmine Netzler-Iose)

SOURCE – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

March 26, 2025