Industry Development
Government assistance schemes have been created to assist and encourage businesses and industries in the production, export, manufacturing and tourism industries. The main purpose of these schemes as summarized below is to support qualifying projects including tourism and manufacturing, agro processing, commercial poultry and other industries by providing one off duty concessions on approved goods or materials that are required at the early stage of these developments.
DUTY CONCESSION SCHEME (DCS)
This Scheme is aimed to assist eligible businesses within the Manufacturing, Fisheries, Agriculture and Tourism Industries through the importation of materials on a duty free basis under the Provision of the Customs Amendment Act 2022 (Section 127A) and the Customs (Tourism and Manufacturing) Amendment Regulation 2010 and Customs (Tourism and Manufacturing Development) Amendment Regulations 2019.
CODE 121
This scheme is to further develop domestic businesses including: Commercial Poultry Farmers, Commercial Manufacturers of Agricultural Products, Commercial Handicraft Manufacturers and Commercial Elei Garment Manufacturers by exempting duty from 8% to 0% for imported raw materials and particular materials imported by businesses approved under the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2008. A completed application form must be submitted with required information to our office for analysis.
AVIATION TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
The purpose of the scheme is to encourage further development of the Aviation Transport Industry for small aircraft carriers in Samoa. The Scheme provides for the exemption of Customs Duty on Approved aircrafts or parts imported from overseas suppliers for use by approved businesses under the provisions of the Customs Amendment Act 2022 (Section 127A) & the Customs (Aviation Transport Development) Regulation 2012.
LAUNCH OF THE GUIDE TO PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN SAMOA
The main purpose of this Guide is to provide clear and reader friendly information on all the private sector development programs operating in Samoa. This will allow all stakeholders to understand the objectives, criteria, operations and relevance of each program and thereby improve the prospects for effective collaboration and flow-on benefits to the Private Sector. The Guide will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis for the benefit of stakeholders.
SAMOA MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSME) DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY
The MSME Development Policy and Strategy recognises the important of micro, small and medium size enterprises to the national economy and local livelihoods, with efforts on developing Samoa’s MSME sector. This policy is the first step of Government to formalise MSME context and policy issues; to re-focus efforts and interventions, to reconnect with development partners, and to ensure growth and sustainability of MSME; with a vision that, “Samoa will have a sustainable and globally competitive MSME sector that contributes to growth in GDP, employment and exports”