Samoa's Prime Minister, Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, have announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Apia, Samoa, beginning on 21 October 2024.
Customarily held every two years, CHOGM is the Commonwealth’s primary political meeting. Building on progress since CHOGM 2022, leaders will deliberate on global economic, environmental and security challenges, and discuss how the contemporary Commonwealth can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people to build a more peaceful, sustainable future.
Commonwealth Leaders selected Samoa as the incoming Chair-In-Office and host of the next CHOGM at last year’s Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda. It will be the first CHOGM to be held by a South Pacific Small Island Nation and the first since Gabon and Togo officially joined the Commonwealth, increasing the number of member nations to 56.
“We look forward to welcoming the Commonwealth family to our home." stated Samoa's Prime Minister Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa "We are weathering unprecedented times as the Commonwealth and the world in general; the adaptive response is anchored in solidarity and building resilience as a matter of survival. Already, we are hard at work, hand-in-hand with the team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, and counting on the support of our partners and the Commonwealth Family, to ensure a successful, productive and unique event. We look forward to the transformative change, renewed purpose and the strengthening of the spirit of cooperation that will come out of this CHOGM.”
Alongside meetings of Heads of Government, which will include a Commonwealth Leaders-only retreat, CHOGM week will include meetings of Foreign Ministers and a range of high-level forums and events to engage young people, civil society, women, business leaders and international institutions.
Prime Minister Mataʻafa and the Commonwealth Secretary-General intend to announce further details, including the official theme for CHOGM 2024, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Located less than four hours from New Zealand and five from Australia, the islands of Samoa - The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific - are the true heart of Polynesia. Made out of ten islands of stunning wild beauty, Samoa - or the Independent State of Samoa as it is officially known to avoid confusion with American Samoa - is a paradise waiting to be explored.
Both warm and welcoming, the locals are proud of their rich and colourful traditions that date back more than 3,000 years. It is said that Samoa retains the most intact indigenous culture in all of Polynesia and Samoa’s rich culture is no better depicted than by the way of life of its locals.
Today, Samoa’s vibrant economy revolves around fishing, agriculture, and tourism, thanks to the islands' scenic attractions and stunning beaches.
"The hosting of CHOGM in Apia next year is an incredible opportunity for the destination to showcase its incredible natural beauty and sustainable tourism approach to the world." added Alison Cryer, Managing Director of the Samoa Tourism Authority European office "It will also give the UK & European Office a lot of media coverage and destination awareness to build on".
For more information about the destination, visit www.samoa.travel or e-mail our Samoa Tourism Authority European team: samoa@representationplus.co.uk