The Samoa government is forging ahead with plans for a cannery operation in the independent state, with an agreement reportedly to be signed later this month with San Diego based Bumble Bee Foods — one of the three major U.S. canned tuna companies.

A Bumble Bee delegation was in Samoa last month for a visit and continued discussions, where they met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi who later announced the company’s plans for a loining plant in Apia that is scheduled to be operational in 2016, if everything goes well.

Besides the loining plant, Samoa News understands that Bumble Bee will also set up a fresh fish operation.

Samoa News learned yesterday afternoon that Bumble Bee’s top executives will be in Apia to sign on June 24 an agreement with Samoa firming up its commitment for the loin and fresh fish operations.

Tupuola Terry Tavita with the Prime Minister’s Office said that he was not aware of the  the date to sign the agreement, but acknowledged there had been a Bumble Bee delegation in Samoa last month.

Additionally, Tuilaepa mentioned last week in Parliament that negotiations were on going with Bumble Bee and another company delegation was to be in Apia later this month, Tupuola said via phone from Apia.

Tupuola referred inquiries on the date of the signing agreement and other Bumble Bee issues to an American Samoa based businessman.

Samoa News understands that the local businessman, who was in Apia, and not available for comments at press time, has been working with Bumble Bee over the past months regarding the company’s operations in Samoa.

Because it was already after-hours on the mainland, Samoa News was able to obtain comments from a Bumble Bee spokesperson.