Ground Breaking starts ST$24m Savalalo Flea Market Construction

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 06 March 2024 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Samoa, Her Excellency Si’alei Van Toor led the ground breaking ceremony yesterday for the ST$24 million tala Flea Market at Savalalo.

The new market is built on the location of the old flea market was destroyed by fire in 2016 and construction will take 18 months.

The previous HRPP Government opted to move the market behind the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (TATTE) building at Sogi.

Fiame said that the main reason for rebuilding on the original location is because it is central and very ideal for people whenever they come to Apia and it is easily accessible and cheap when compared to going to Sogi.

“ It is a place the previous market was built more than 4 decades ago and it’s an iconic site where our people congregate and meet, producers and sellers of goods ranging from agricultural to handicrafts to fish and shellfish to small food stalls like pani keke and aisakulimi and much more,” she said,

A win-win project.
Fiame said both the New Zealand and the Samoan Governments see the rebuilding on the original location as a win-win situation for all.

The outcome achievement of the project include:

• Sustainable recovery and growth of the local construction industry, private sector and local vendors;
• Improving gender inclusive job creation in the small businesses that will have the opportunity to be vendors in the market and
• Contributing early to positive impressions of tourists to Samoa to aid the strength and speed of the recovery of the tourism sector.

“Furthermore, this project will cater for our small business entrepreneurs such as flea market operators, handicrafts, small restaurants and mini offices for our local people,” said Fiame.

An artists impression of what the Savalalo Flea Market will look like when completed.

High Commissioner Sialei van Toor said the New Zealand government has been in the forefront in supporting the Apia Waterfront Project.

She said New Zealand is proud to partner with Samoa on the redevelopment of the flea market and on the investment announce in 2022 for the 60^th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and bilateral relations between the two nations.

The Grant Funding Arrangement of $12 million NZ dollars was signed in April 2023 between Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Samoa’s former Minister of Finance, Afioga Mulipola Anarosa Ale Mulipola. The Government of Samoa through the Samoa Land Corporation is contributing $10 million tala towards the project.

The Zheng Company Limited was awarded the design and construction of the work based on their bid which was around $24.9m.

The project manager for this project is Tinai Gordon and Associates Company Limited.

“We pray to the Almighty for his guidance and protection over this Project. To protect all the people involved to ensure the fruitful success of this Project so that this project will become a wonderful and delightful reality come August/ September 2025,” said Fiame.

An aerial view of the Savalalo Flea market’s location.