Samoa
Introduction
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.
Capital
Apia
Official Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Currency
Samoan tālā
Geography
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Area
2,831 sq. km land: 2,821 sq. km water: 10 sq. km
Climate
Tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Natural resources
Hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use
Agricultural land: 12.4%arable land 2.8%; permanent crops 7.8%; permanent pasture 1.8%forest: 60.4% other: 27.2% (2011 est.)
Economy
Overview
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. It has a nominal GDP of $780 million. Agriculture, including fishing, employs roughly two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 1,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia, and is responsible for 65% of total exports. Industry accounts for nearly 15% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The service sector accounts for nearly three-quarters of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. In December 2012, extensive flooding and wind damage from Tropical Cyclone Evan killed four people, displaced over 6,000, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes in Samoa's Upolu Island. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state and inflation is low, but the external debt is approximately 55% of GDP. Samoa became the 155th member of the WTO in May 2012, and graduated from least developed country (LDC) status in January 2014.
Agriculture Products
Coconuts, nonu, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries
Food processing, building materials, auto parts
Exports Commodities
Fish, coconut oil and cream, nonu, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
Imports Commodities
Machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Useful Links
Government of Samoa
Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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