EU Ambassador to the Pacific visits Nofotane Shop

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The Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert arrived in Samoa today to present her credentials to the Government of Samoa.

SVSG was humbled when Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert requested a visit to our Nofotane Shop in between her important engagements in Samoa. Ms Pirjo Liisa Heikkila, Head of Political and Press at the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, accompanied Her Excellency on her visit.

Her Excellency was given a tour of the Nofotane Shop located in SVSG’s main office in Apia. She purchased sourvenir gifts from the Nofotane Shop to take home as a token of her short time in Samoa and to support the economic empowerment of 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 border closures due to the pandemic.

These initiatives would not have been possible if it wasn’t for 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. Many of these women who make 100% crafted, handwoven and handmade Nofotane products are survivors of domestic violence”, said Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President.