Our delegation took the stage in Hong Kong this week to address one of the most important conversations of our time – the role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of Pacific economies and societies.

“Chair of the Conference

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

Talofa lava from Samoa.

Our delegation from Samoa is pleased to join you today in this World Internet Conference 2026. We acknowledge with sincere appreciation our host for this event, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Innovation, Technology Industry Bureau of the People Republic of China, for the invitation and your hospitality since we arrived in Hong Kong.

It is a distinct pleasure to address this important topic, which is increasingly shaping the future of our economies and societies: artificial intelligence. AI is no longer a distant concept. It is already influencing how we produce goods, deliver services, manage finance, and respond to the complex challenges facing our nations.

For Samoa and our Pacific neighbors, the opportunities are significant. AI has the potential to strengthen traditional industries and create new productive capacities in areas such as smart production, intelligent logistics, and digital finance. It can enhance productivity, reduce waste, strengthen supply chains, expand access to financial services, and support more informed decision-making across both the public and private sectors.

This is especially relevant for Pacific Island countries, where geographic isolation and distance from major markets continue to present persistent challenges. AI can help us address some of these barriers by enabling smarter systems, improved connectivity, and more efficient service delivery. It can also play an important role in our response to climate change through enhanced forecasting, disaster preparedness, environmental monitoring, and climate-resilient planning.

To realize these benefits, we must establish the right foundations. This includes interconnected computing resources, strong data ecosystems, and technical standards that promote trust, inter-operability, and security. It also requires capacity, partnership, and policy frameworks that are well aligned to support practical AI-driven economic development.

For Samoa, this is a particularly significant moment. As an emerging digital economy, we are committed to ensuring that digital transformation delivers meaningful and lasting benefits for our people. This week, from 13 to 17 April 2026, Samoa will celebrate Digital Samoa Week under the theme, “Towards a Digitally Empowered Samoa.” It provides an important platform to advance innovation, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate our digital future. We also look forward to the launch of two important national documents: our National ICT Policy 2025/26–2030/31 and our National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025/26–2030/31. These documents represent Samoa’s efforts to put in place the essential building blocks for digital transformation.

Let us therefore move forward with confidence, cooperation, and a shared commitment to learn together and ensuring that AI contributes to sustainable growth, climate resilience, and prosperity across our region. Today, marks this learning journey.

God Bless. Soifua.”