At the 2 Samoa Economic Integration talks in Apia last month, Samoa’s private sector raised the issue of acquiring land to operate businesses in the territory.
Samoa and American Samoa made a land swap during the Togiola Faoa administration where Samoa gave American Samoa land in Vailima while ASG reciprocated with property in Tafuna near the Procurement Office where the Samoa Consulate is to be built.
According to the outcomes document from the working group, the meeting noted that the investment opportunities between the two counties will continually grow as a result of the Economic Initiative.
“Samoa’s private sector raised the issue of acquiring commercial land to operation businesses in American Samoa,” says the document.
It’s not known if the private sector wants a separate piece of land or is referring to the land parcel that’s been given to the Samoa Government.
The outcomes statement also says, “Samoa acknowledged that the ease of setting up and doing business in American Samoa has improved due to the facilitating role played by the American Samoa Government.”
The Chamber of Commerce of the two countries pledged to continue their collaboration on trade, and business facilitation, trade fairs, knowledge transfer and training opportunities.
Samoa highlighted the opportunities in Apia for professional training available to American Samoa such as education, medicine, seafarers and other trades.
The two sides discussed their respective apprenticeship programs but acknowledged their differing certification and recognition frameworks.
Our delegation to the talks also expressed interest in working with Samoa on the development of value added products such as feed and soy been oil.
In recognition of efforts to cultivate value added agriculture and potential export products produced by the private sectors, the two sides agreed that there should be flexibility in the economic arrangement to allow these products to be added to the list of potential exports.
