EU Ambassador to the Pacific visits Nofotane Shop

Apia, Samoa – 26 October 2023: The Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert visited the Samoa Victim Support Group Nofotane Shop yesterday.

Barbara Plinkert who arrived in Samoa Wednesday to present her credentials to the Samoa Government requested to visit the centre in between her various engagements.

The EU Head of Delegation for the Pacific was accompanied by Ms Pirjo Liisa Heikkila, Head of Political and Press at the European Union Delegation for the Pacific.

Her Excellency was given a tour of the Nofotane Shop located in SVSG’s main office in Apia which is a project to support economic development and empower of Samoan women.

The Nofotane Shop opened in June 2021 to sell products made by Nofotane women under the Nofotane brand. In June 2022, SVSG launched the Nofotane online shop to meet increasing international demand for products, especially during the border closures brought by the pandemic.

These initiatives are supported by the European Commission’s funding through its Civil Society Support Programme II for the Sustainable Income Generation & Self Employment of Nofotane Women Project (2020-2022).

“We thank our special visitors, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert and Ms Pirjo Liisa Heikkila, for supporting our talented, dedicated and hardworking Nofotane Women,” said Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President.

“Many of these women who make 100% crafted, handwoven and handmade Nofotane products are survivors of domestic violence.”