The support programme aimed to prepare and obtain the approval of the national i-EPA implementation plan; conduct legislative review(s) and propose a framework for adaptation of domestic legislation to the i-EPA as well as a framework for the ratification of the i-EPA; undertake Private sector’s exploratory trade and investment missions to selected PACPS States and EU Member States in concert with the official mission to attend i-EPA coordination meetings.

Two-fold purposes:

• Support the Samoan and Solomon Islands’ authorities prepare for the successful accession to the i-EPA; and
• Assist the Samoan and Solomon Islands’ authorities to prepare for the effective implementation of the i-EPA.

Three-fold outputs: The Support Programme contributed to:

• Trade officials’ capacities on EPA accession process strengthened and country’s EPA coordination structure and framework developed;
• A study on the fiscal implications of the Market Access Offer (MAO) is produced;
• Private sector operators better informed of the trade and investment opportunities under EPA.

Intervention areas:

• EPA accession and implementation;
• Capacity building in trade policy implementation;
• Assessment of MAO fiscal implications;
• Support to private sector to take advantage of the opportunities under EPA.

Purpose 1 – Support the Samoan and Solomon Islands’ authorities prepare for the successful accession to the EPA

• Best Practice Report - structure and approach to trade policy frameworks for Samoa prepared;
• Best Practice Report - structure and approach to trade policy frameworks for Solomon Islands prepared;
• Fiscal and Economic Impact of the MAO Report for Samoa prepared;
• Fiscal Report and Economic Impact of the MAO for Solomon Islands prepared;
• EPA structure and framework on Market Access Offer for Samoa and Solomon Islands prepared;
• Legislative Report, comprised of (i) Narrative; (ii) Compliance Matrix and (iii) Proposed Roadmap for Samoa prepared;
• Legislative Report, comprised of (i) Narrative; (ii) Compliance Matrix and (iii) Proposed Roadmap for Solomon Islands prepared
• Legislative Framework Matrix for the ratification of the EPA for Samoa and Solomon Islands prepared.

Purpose 2 - Assist the Samoan and Solomon Islands’ authorities to prepare for the effective implementation of the EPA.

• Trade & Market Opportunities Report prepared;
• Capacity Building Workshops and Presentations on preparedness for effective implementation of the EPA successfully held;
• Trade development and private sector competitiveness report for Samoa and Solomon Islands prepared;
• Material for the awareness workshop for government, private sector and civil society stakeholder on the benefits of EPA prepared;
• Business exploratory mission for the selected business communities of Samoa and Solomon Islands undertaken.