Belgium Ambassador presents credentials

Apia, Samoa – 6 March 2025 – The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belgium to Samoa, His Excellency Michel Goffin presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at Credentials ceremony held this morning at the Official Residence of the Head of State at Vailele.

His Excellency is accredited to Samoa with residence in Canberra, Australia.

Samoa and Belgium have maintained cordial relations since the establishment of formal ties in May 1973. The partnership between the two countries is strengthened through engagement in multilateral fora where we share membership of the EU–OACP Partnership and the United Nations.

H.E. Mr. Goffin highlighted Samoa and Belgium’s shared priority in the preservation and management of the ocean and its resources and the signing of the new Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II reaffirmed the growing partnership between Samoa and Belgium, acknowledging Belgium’s contributions to Samoa’s development through the European Development Fund (EDF) that funds for projects such as water and sanitation and community based initiatives through the Micro-Project Programme.

The Head of State expressed his confidence in the appointment of H.E. Goffin that will further strengthen the existing relations and cooperation between Samoa and Belgium.

H.E. Mr. Michel Goffin is a distinguished career diplomat with academic qualifications in Musicology, Philosophy, and International Relations from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. His diplomatic service includes postings in Baghdad (1988), Canberra (1991) and Jakarta (1995). He was appointed as Belgium’s Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghanistan from 2006 to 2008.

Mr Goffin was also seconded as Head of Mission of the EU Delegation to Laos in 2012-2016. He has held key positions within Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including roles at the UN and Global Affairs Directorate and as Director General for Political Affairs, overseeing EU and UN policies (2016–2017). H.E Goffin was appointed as Ambassador of Belgium to Australia in 2021, with cross- accreditation to Samoa and other Pacific Island Countries. He is married and has two sons.