Month: November 2025

Source:

[PRESS RELEASE Apia, Samoa 18 November 2025] – A new global project to advance the cocoa value chain development in Samoa was kicked off today during an inception workshop, co-hosted by FAO and the Government of Samoa. This project is funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme. Samoa is selected as a ‘demonstration country’ that will inspire and showcase examples to other Pacific Island countries.

Through FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative, eight Pacific Island Countries are supported to promote their special agricultural products, These countries are Cook Islands (wetland taro), Fiji (turmeric), Nauru (poultry), Samoa (cocoa), Solomon Islands (cassava), Tonga (sweet yam), Tuvalu (breadfruit), and Vanuatu (poultry).

“Samoa’s experience will offer valuable insights to inspire and guide other Pacific nations as we advance together under the OCOP framework,“ said Aiolupotea Misa Tony Aiolupo, Associate Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Independent State of Samoa, while officially opening the project inception workshop.

Cocoa is one of the most grown permanent crops by smallholder farmers in Samoa and this will diversify the market opportunities available to women and youth in communities and promote their income-generating opportunities. Samoa is recorded to have one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, and cocoa-based products offer potential for contributing to healthier diets. Cocoa is reported to contain beneficial phenolic compounds, particularly the flavanol content, which can potentially prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease. The development of various cocoa products under OCOP can potentially boost the availability of products containing phenolic compounds for healthy eating.

“China’s support to FAO’s OCOP initiative marks a new milestone in FAO-Samoa friendship, especially this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Samoa diplomatic relations, ” said FEI Mingxing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Independent State of Samoa. He further added that China stands ready to exchange knowledge and technology to enhance agricultural development.

As a ‘demonstration country’, Samoa will be supported to develop its cocoa value chain by transforming production, processing, storage and market developments. This initiative also promotes sustainable technologies, identifies investments and fosters partnerships with research institutes.

Meanwhile, the other seven Pacific Island nations participating in the OCOP initiative will benefit from the shared experience and learnings. Other than Samoa, there are 14 other ‘demonstration countries’ in other regions that will be supported by this 5-million USD global project. This is in line with the spirit of leveraging South-South and Triangular cooperation among developing countries and among Pacific Island countries.

“Every island is special, so is the agricultural product that comes from their land and sea. Taro, cassava, cocoa and other products have great power to promote healthier diets and to increase farmers’ income in the Pacific small islands,” said Alue Dohong, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.

He further reiterated FAO’s strong commitment to support the Pacific small island states in achieving food security and transforming towards a more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

END.

November 18, 2025

Source:

[17th November 2025]- The Government of Samoa acknowledges the public interest generated by the Samoa Observer editorial dated 13 November 2025 regarding the updated process for appointing District Council Chairpersons. This statement provides clarity and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and community-led development.

Strengthening Leadership and Local Governance

The updated criteria for District Council Chairpersons are part of a broader effort to ensure stronger, more accountable local leadership. Under the revised requirements, Chairpersons must be:

• Individuals of integrity and good standing

• Recognised leaders within their district

• Capable of responsibly managing public development funds

• Committed to ensuring fair access to services, especially for vulnerable families

• Aligned with Samoa’s national vision for community-driven development

• Registered with the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC) as a candidate for the 2025 General Election

These reforms are aligned with the Government’s increased investment in the District Development Programme (DDP) — rising from $1 million to $2 million tala per district — to strengthen local institutions and drive equitable development.

Governance Review and Legal Alignment

The initial governance structure for Phase 1 of the DDP was intended as a transitional model. A review conducted by the Ministry, based on:

• Auditor-General’s findings, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) reports,

identified the need to strengthen:

• Lease and procurement arrangements

• Financial oversight and reporting practices

• Governance and accountability capacity, and

• Consistent delivery of development outcomes across all villages and families

The revised governance framework is being strengthened in line with:

• The Constitution of Samoa

• Villiage Fono Act1990, Internal Affairs 1995

• Public Finance Management Act

No appointment will be made unless the process fully complies with legal, constitutional, and policy requirements.

3. Transparency and Accountability in Appointments

The Government confirms that:

• The chairperson’s appointments will be undertaken in full accordance with the established process.

• Eligibility criteria will be clearly defined, publicly communicated, and applied consistently.

• The selection and appointment of the Chairperson will be carried out by the District Development Program Steering Committee as part of the complete appointment process.

These steps underscore our commitment to transparency, equity, and strong local leadership.

4. Strengthening the DDP for Equity and Impact

The DDP has delivered real benefits across Samoa. To ensure deeper impact and equity, the Government is undertaking a programme-wide review to improve:

• Access to development funding for all villages and families

• Equity in resource distribution

• Support for districts with limited administrative capacity

• Governance consistency across all 51 districts

A strengthened Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system underpins this work. Districts will now be required to:

• Provide regular progress updates

• Demonstrate transparent and effective use of public funds

• Share community-level outcomes with the public

The Chairperson of the Fono Faavae will work closely with the DDP Team to support these strengthened oversight measures.

5. Leadership Matters More Than Ever

With increased funding and strengthened governance expectations, the role of District Council Chairperson is now even more critical. The Chairperson must ensure:

• Transparent management of development funds

• Effective coordination between village and district structures

• Meaningful community engagement

• Fair decision-making that benefits every family

Strong, accountable leadership is essential to realizing the DDP’s vision of resilient, inclusive development across Samoa.

6. Upholding Fa‘asamoa and Local Authority

The Government reaffirms the fundamental role of the fono a ali‘i ma faipule in Samoa’s system of governance. This framework does not replace traditional authority but it strengthens partnership by unifying traditional leadership with modern accountability.

Ongoing consultations with village leaders will continue as we refine the DDP implementation guidelines.

7. Development with Integrity — Powered by the People, for the People

The Government of Samoa deeply values the voices and wisdom of our people. Every dialogue, every village consultation, every media question helps us do better — together.

By strengthening district leadership and refining the DDP, we are not just improving systems — we are investing in trust, partnership, and shared responsibility. Our commitment is unwavering: to ensure that every family, in every village, sees and feels the benefits of national development.

We believe that true progress is achieved not when development is done for communities, but when it is done with them. This work is grounded in respect, guided by transparency, and inspired by the strength of our people.

This is our promise.

To lead with integrity.

To serve in partnership.

And to ensure that no one is left behind.

Hon. Moefaauouo Julius Ah Kui Tafunai

MINISTER OF WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

November 18, 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) today (November 18) launched the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+) under the New Industrialisation Support Scheme of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) and enhanced the existing New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) to further drive the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong.

“By launching Manufacturing+ and enhancing the existing NIAS, the Government aims to promote new industrialisation and foster diversified economic development. Announced in this year’s Budget, Manufacturing+ seeks to encourage local manufacturing enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises with no prior experience in smart production investment, to adopt smart production technologies and upgrade their production lines, thereby driving the development of new quality productive forces. As well, the Chief Executive announced in this year’s Policy Address that the application threshold for the NIAS will be relaxed and funding would be provided on a matching basis for enterprises to employ relevant technical personnel. This will help attract more enterprises engaging in strategic industries to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong, driving high value-added advanced manufacturing,” a spokesman for the Commission said.

The spokesperson continued, “The Government will proactively leverage innovation and technology to drive high value‑added manufacturing, promote new industrialisation, and remain committed to providing timely and appropriate support to relevant enterprises.”

Under Manufacturing+, the Government will provide funding of up to $250,000 per eligible enterprise on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis to enterprises operating production lines in Hong Kong to assist them to formulate smart production strategies and introduce advanced technologies into existing production lines. The funding scope covers relevant consultancy fees, costs for purchasing equipment and integrating smart technologies into existing production lines, as well as training and development expenses. To ensure effective use of resources, Manufacturing+ will be overseen by the Committee on Technology Adoption and Production Line Upgrade, with the Hong Kong Productivity Council serving as its Secretariat.

In addition, the application threshold for the NIAS will also be relaxed, with the minimum total project cost lowered from $300 million to $150 million. Enterprises shall contribute no less than $100 million while the matching ratio of 1 (Government) to 2 (enterprise) remains unchanged. Moreover, the ITC will also provide funding on a 1 (Government) to 1 (enterprise) basis for companies approved under the NIAS to employ up to 10 technical personnel required for setting up or operating smart production facilities.

Manufacturing+ and the NIAS accept applications year-round. Details are available on the Innovation and Technology Fund website (www.itf.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the schemes (Tel: 3543 5904; email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 3.9% in the July to September period to 3.8% in the August to October period, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate remained at 1.6%.

Total employment was 3,672,700, down around 1,800 from July to September, while the labour force also decreased by around 7,800 to 3,822,300.

Looking ahead, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said the solid expansion of the Hong Kong economy, along with improvements in business sentiment and a gradual recovery in consumption confidence, should give support to the labour market. 

“However, the employment situations of some sectors would continue to face challenges from economic restructuring,” he added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (November 18) that the Chief Executive in Council has approved the establishment of the third medical school, and has approved in principle for the new medical school to be established by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “Hong Kong is proactively developing into an international medical training, research and innovation hub. The establishment of the third medical school to train more healthcare professionals is crucial to enhancing local healthcare services. I thank the expert advisors of the Task Group on New Medical School for their efforts in the past year for completing the evaluation in an efficient, professional and fair manner within a short period of time, laying a solid foundation for the establishment of the third medical school. The third medical school will work closely with the two existing medical schools to complement each other’s strengths, enhance the standard and capabilities of Hong Kong’s scientific research and medical education, and respond to the national strategy of building the nation into a leading country in education.” 

     A Government spokesman said that the expert advisors and members of the Task Group conducted an in-depth review of the proposals submitted by the three universities from various perspectives including innovative strategic positioning, curriculum structure and financial sustainability. Having regard to the Task Group’s evaluation outcome and recommendation, the Chief Executive in Council has approved in principle for the new medical school to be established by the HKUST to launch a new four-year graduate-level entry medical programme. The HKUST shall aim to admit its first cohort of 50 students in the 2028/29 academic year. Before commencement of student admission, the HKUST must obtain an in-principle approval from the Medical Council of Hong Kong for the accreditation of its medical curriculum.

     The HKUST should proceed with the planning, preparation and establishment of the third medical school. It shall sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government on key implementation requirements, including curriculum accreditation, financing, staffing, campus development and teaching hospital arrangements, and collaborate closely with the Government and the Task Group on relevant matters during the implementation stage. The HKUST has pledged to commit its own resources (including donations and funds) to partially fund for the establishment of the new medical school, including contributing over $2 billion to build a new complex on its Clear Water Bay campus as the premises for the new medical school.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “Today is an important day for Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The establishment of the new medical school will nurture more outstanding doctors to support the local healthcare system in providing quality services, while at the same time raising the standard and capacity of Hong Kong’s scientific research and medical education, developing Hong Kong into a leading hub for nurturing scientific research and clinical talent in health and medical innovation. The Task Group and the HKUST have a tight schedule ahead. I look forward to the HKUST finalising the implementation details of the third medical school’s establishment plan shortly. We are confident that the establishment of the new medical school will introduce healthy competition, and expect the two existing medical schools to fully support its development, thereby creating synergy.”

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, “The proposals submitted by the three universities are detailed and each has its own merits, with institutional characteristics and innovative ideas. They demonstrate the higher education sector’s unity in medical education and related professional training to jointly create a better future for Hong Kong. Education is the foundation for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation. Hong Kong is currently the only city in the world with five universities in the world’s top 100, and the establishment of the new medical school will inject new impetus into our higher education, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub and an international hub for high-calibre talent. The new medical school will also accelerate Hong Kong’s alignment with the national blueprint of the 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education for building world-class universities and academic subjects. I expect the university to continue to seize the opportunities of the Northern Metropolis University Town, to develop synergy with neighbouring industries, and to provide talent support for the country and Hong Kong.”

     Professor Lo added, “The three proposals are each distinctive and demonstrate their unique strengths. The proposal from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) advocates for an integrated Chinese-Western medicine programme; the proposal from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) focuses on inter-professional training and the application of artificial intelligence; while the HKUST concentrates on training physician-scientists who possess both clinical capabilities and scientific research expertise. I am deeply encouraged that the three universities have submitted proposals for the establishment of a new medical school, demonstrating their commitment to the development and innovation of healthcare in Hong Kong.”

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government supports the establishment of the third medical school by a local university to nurture more outstanding medical practitioners to support the local healthcare system in providing quality services, while at the same time promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international medical training, research and innovation hub. The Task Group was established in October 2024, comprising seasoned local, Mainland and overseas academics in medical education and university management, professionals, representatives from the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, as well as representatives from the relevant government bureaux and departments. The Task Group issued a letter of invitation in December 2024 to all University Grants Committee-funded universities to submit proposals for the establishment of the third medical school. By the deadline in March 2025, three proposals were received from HKBU, the PolyU and the HKUST. The Task Group held two rounds of meetings with the universities that submitted proposals in May and June 2025.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) 17th held the Sports Technology R&D Achievements Press Conference, highlighting three major opportunities-cross-industry collaboration, cross-domain integration, and startup engagement-and showcasing five cutting-edge innovations that enhance athletic training, sports viewing, and safety protection. These achievements demonstrate Taiwan’s continued advancement toward next-generation “Sports Everywhere” smart sports applications.

Among the highlights, the “Taiwan Hawk-Eye” Baseball Tracking System drew significant attention. Featuring a pitching-trajectory error of less than one centimeter, the system delivers accuracy comparable to that used in Major League Baseball. It has already been deployed at Tianmu Baseball Stadium, Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, and the Taipei Dome, and has been introduced to Hongye Elementary School in rural Taitung to support scientific baseball training. The innovation underscores how technology is strengthening Taiwan’s national sport and promoting broader sports-industry development.

Director-General Chao-Chung Kuo of DoIT stated that the showcased technologies were developed under the Executive Yuan’s Taiwan Sports x Technology Industry Strategy (SRB) Action Plan, focusing on two key directions: “technologizing the sports industry” and “sportifying the technology industry.” This year’s achievements span baseball, golf, cycling, and mountaineering-leveraging Taiwan’s competitive sports strengths to advance technological leadership, drive industrial value creation, and foster an emerging sports-technology ecosystem with global market potential.

Technologizing the Sports Industry
With the rapid growth of Taiwan’s hiking and outdoor sports culture, the demand for safe mountaineering solutions has increased significantly. The “Tech Mountaineer – MountLink Remote Guardian Platform” integrates base-station-free long-range communication with SOS alert functionality, and has been adopted in collaboration with government agencies and fire-rescue units to strengthen mountain-safety management and emergency response.

Taiwan also holds a strong global position as a “bicycle kingdom,” supported by a complete and competitive industry chain. The Indoor Cycling Training System, developed with DoIT support, integrates smart trainers with interactive software, enabling coaches to monitor incline changes and athletes’ physiological responses in real time. This enhances training precision and demonstrates Taiwan’s strong capability in connecting R&D, industrialization, and cross-domain applications-driving momentum for future smart cycling innovations.

Sportifying the Technology Industry
On the technology-industry front, the Smart Golf Service System is the first portable, all-in-one multi-sensor solution capable of providing instant swing-movement feedback. With its lightweight and integrated design, the system shortens setup time and supports deployment in diverse golf environments. It accelerates the shift toward mobile and intelligent golf training, helping domestic equipment manufacturers transition from hardware suppliers to complete solution providers.

Meanwhile, “GolfMaster AI Coach ” and AI Golf Fitness Assessment & Training Service deliver comprehensive biomechanical analysis and automatically generate personalized training programs. These solutions support self-directed learning for recreational players and enhance professional instruction for coaches. Above systems were deployed at Sunrise Golf & Country Club and Wu Fong Golf Course during the World Masters Games 2025, demonstrating how technology enables safer, smarter, and more effective sports participation across diverse user groups-from rural communities to metropolitan areas, and from beginners to elite athletes.

In addition, representatives from research institutes, end-user organizations, and industry partners were invited to the press conference to learn more about government policy directions and available resources. Attendees included Tai-Shan Chang, General Manager of NiceSports; Asian Games golf gold medalist and coach Jui-Hui Lee; Ching-Larng Su, Honorary President of Taiwan Golf Course Association; Ching Chu Huang, General Manager of Wu Fong Golf Course; Yung-Ting Chen from the Sixth Rescue and Emergency Response Battalion of the Kaohsiung City Fire Department; Ke-Hsin Tseng, cycling coach at the National Taiwan University of Sport; Chieh-Cheng Chen, General Manager of XPORTS; Yo-Kuang Wang, CEO of OSENSE Technology; Yu-Wei Chung, Co-founder of Preciser; Yi-Chin Wang, head of Joyhike; and Tzu-Hao Huang, CEO of Justhings Technology.

Also attending were Jen-Chieh Cheng, General Director of the Service Systems Technology Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI); Tse-Ming Tsai, Senior Deputy Director-General of the Institute for Information Industry (III) Software Research Institute; and Chin-Yang Lee, Deputy General Manager of the Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center (CHC).

This initiative enables enterprises to more effectively adopt AI and smart-sensing technologies, enhancing training precision, accelerating product commercialization, and expanding international market opportunities-demonstrating new growth potential for Taiwan’s sports-technology industry.

DoIT emphasized that these technological breakthroughs not only bring direct benefits to the public but also create new opportunities for industrial collaboration, commercialization, and international expansion. From equipment manufacturing to data-driven service applications, Taiwan demonstrates comprehensive capabilities in smart sports technology. Moving forward, MOEA will continue collaborating with ITRI, III, CHC, local governments, and enterprise partners to establish an innovation ecosystem that connects field validation with global market deployment-making technology-enabled sports and wider public participation an integral part of daily life in Taiwan.

The “Sports x Technology Action Plan,” launched in 2023, spans 2023-2026 (ROC years 112-115) with a total budget exceeding NT$5 billion. The plan focuses on emerging sports-technology applications, promoting hardware-software integration and virtual-physical fusion services, encouraging high-tech industries-including equipment manufacturers, sports-gear producers, and ICT companies-to accelerate sports-technology adoption, and supporting the industrialization of Taiwan’s competitive sports sectors such as baseball, golf, and indoor/outdoor sports venues. By its conclusion, the plan is expected to stimulate around NT$3 billion in private-sector investment and generate over NT$7.5 billion in industry output, advancing Taiwan’s sports-technology development from R&D to full-scale implementation.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Chief Executive-in-Council has endorsed the University of Science & Technology (UST) to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school, with the inaugural cohort of 50 medical students expected to be admitted in 2028.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau made the announcement at a media session today while providing an update on the latest progress of the establishment of a new medical school.

He said the decision took into consideration the Task Group on New Medical School’s recommendations, after a holistic assessment based on 10 major criteria.

“The UST has got a lot of important advantages in terms of, for example, their innovative strategic positioning, building up clinician scientists, (and) their university ranking is certainly one of the matters that we considered as we see the UST has a more global outlook. And the financial model that they propose is more in line with the policy of having matching in our subsidy in this important venture.”

The university proposed to self-fund $2 billion to build a medical school complex in Clearwater Bay.

Prof Lo said: “About the reason for having an interim campus in Clear Water Bay, the Ngau Tam Mei site would not be ready by the year 2028, which is the proposed year for the initiation of this medical curriculum for the UST, so we have to have an interim campus for teaching. The Ngau Tam Mei campus will likely be ready at around 2034 to 2035, so we have to rely on the interim campus for teaching for the time being.

“And also because the teaching hospital in Ngau Tam Mei will not be ready for quite a while, we will need to rely on some other teaching hospitals, which is actually included in the proposal by the UST. And this is also the reason that we have to seek support from the Hospital Authority.”

The inaugural graduates are expected to begin housemanship in 2032, he added.