The Honourable Prime Minister also attended the 100th session of the ACP Council of Ministers, on which he presided as its President until 31 January 2014. The following key decisions were taken at the meeting:

* The appointment of Dr Patrick I. Gomes as the new Secretary-General of the ACP Group for the period 2015-2020;

* Endorsement of the Future Perspectives of the ACP Group Report;

* Consideration of the Eminent Persons Group Report on the Future of ACP post-2020;

* Approval of recommendations aimed at the effective implementation of the SAMOA Pathway;

* Approval of the ACP private sector development strategy; and

* Approval of the ACP Secretariat’s Budget for 2015.

On the ACP Joint Undertaking on Customs Administrative Cooperation Agreement to Implement Cumulation, the Council mandated the Committee of Ambassadors to finalise the Agreement and ensure all ACP countries that will sign the agreement have the latitude to adhere to it. The aim of the joint undertaking is to facilitate the implementation of the cumulation provisions under the EPA relating to Customs administrative procedures. The ACP Secretariat will be the depository of signatures. ACP countries have up to 31 December 2014 to provide substantive comments on the Agreement.

The Prime Minister’s delegation included Aiono Mose Sua, the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Faumuina Esther Lameto-Poutoa, CEO of the Samoa National Provident Fund.