The document summarizes the Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Workshop held in December 2016. It discusses opportunities for developing agritourism in Samoa to improve food/nutrition security by promoting linkages between agriculture and tourism markets. Specifically, it outlines opportunities for farmers and communities to generate additional income from tourism. It also describes how the Ministry of Commerce can assist with business registration, permits, and schemes to support agritourism development.

1. SAMOA AGRITOURISM POLICY
SETTING WORKSHOP 2016
“PROMOTING LINKAGES BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM RELATED MARKETS
FOR IMPROVED FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY”
SAMOA CONFERENCE CENTER
Wednesday 14th to Friday16th December 2016

2. OUTLINE
I. ABOUT US
II. OPPORTUNITIES IN DEVELOPING
AGRITOURISM
III. HOW WE CAN HELP
IV. CONCLUDING REMARKS

3. I. ABOUT US
The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour:
 1. 8 Divisions
 TCM, RCIP, IDIP, IROSH, AELM, FTCD, CSU, LU
 2. Focus:
 securing an enabling environment for
business development; and
 private sector development
(Vision; Mission; Public Private Partnership)

4. II. OPPROTUNITIES - General
1. Market Access – market comes to you;
2. Strengthens Import Substitution;
3. Employment creation;
4 Value Adding - Improved quality of
products & produces;

5. II. OPPROTUNITIES – General Cont’d
5. Enhances Relationships;
6. Promising Business Profile – sustainability,
accessibility (size, climate), cost,
environment friendly;
7. Preservation of heritage and traditions;

6. II. OPPROTUNITIES - Specific
Farmers:
expanding farm operations;
using farm based products in new and
innovative ways;
improving farm revenue streams;
developing new consumer market niches;
increasing awareness of local agricultural
products;

7. II. OPPROTUNITIES - Specific
Farmers Cont’d:
channeling additional on-farm revenues
directly to family members;
improving farm living conditions, working
areas and farm recreation opportunities;
developing managerial skill and
entrepreneurial spirit; and
increasing the long term sustainability for
farm businesses.

8. II. OPPROTUNITIES - Specific
Communities:
generating additional revenue for local businesses
and services from tourists;
upgrading / revitalizing community facilities for
residents and visitors;
increasing protection of rural landscapes and natural
environments for tourists and residents;
helping preserve and revitalize local traditions, art
and craft;
promoting inter-regional, inter-cultural
communication and understanding;

9. II. OPPROTUNITIES - Specific
Communities Cont’d
increasing awareness of agricultural issues
and values among the public;
promoting the on-going use of local
agricultural products and services;
helping to diversify and strengthen the rural
economy via job and income creation; and
providing a more energetic business
environment for attracting other businesses
and small industries.

10. II. OPPROTUNITIES – Specific
Tourist Operators
diversifying the mix of tourism products
and services available to visitors;
increasing tourism flows into attractive
rural regions;

11. II. OPPROTUNITIES – Specific
Tourist Operators
increasing season length during
traditionally off-peak business periods;
uniquely positioning rural regions in key
tourism markets; an
bringing more non-local currency to
local businesses.

12. III. HOW WE CAN HELP
1. Setting up a Businesses
STEP 1 – Companies, Incorporated Societies,
Cooperatives, Charitable Trusts Registration
(MCIL)
STEP 2 - Foreign Investment Registry (MCIL)
STEP 3 - Business License (MfR)
STEP 4 – Foreign Employee Employment Permits
(MCIL)
STEP 5 – Permanent Residence (MPMC)

13. 2. Government Assistance Schemes
Scheme 1 - Duty Concession Scheme
Exempt of Customs Duty on imported
goods from overseas suppliers
(Tu’usaunoaina o Tiute o Oloa auina mai i
Fafo)
Tourism, Manufacturing and Aviation Sectors
(Vaega o Atina’e o Fale Talimalo, Oloa Gaosi
ma Va’alele)

14. Government Assistance Scheme 2
 Scheme 2 - Code 121
Reduction of import duty from 8% - 0% for
imported raw materials and other particular
materials (Fa’aitiitia tiute o oloa gaosi mai fafo)
Eligible Domestic Businesses
Commercial Poultry Farmers (Falemoa Tetele)
Manufacturers of Agricultural Products (Oloa
Gaosi – Fa’atoaga)
Handicraft & Elei Garment Manufacturers
(Oloa Taulima ma Elei)

15. IV. CONCLUDING REMARKS
 Agritourism is a promising investment for
revenue generation;
 easily linked to existing frameworks hence
cost effective;
 Proper care should be given to potential
challenges; and
 Contextualize the definition of Agritourism
 Contact us:
Levels 3 and 4 of ACC Building
Phone #: 20441/20442
Email: mpal@mcil.gov.ws
Facebook: Mcil Samoa

16. FA’AFETAI

18. Process for Setting up a Business
(Auala e uia mo le amataina o se
Pisinisi)

19. Process for Setting up a Business
(Auala e uia mo le amataina o se Pisinisi)
STEP 1 - Companies Registration (MCIL)
 Obtain a Certificate of Incorporation for the proposed
company.
 Local Companies Register – registration fee of SAT250.00
 Overseas Companies Register – registration fee of
SAT300.00

20. Process for Setting up a Business
(Auala e uia mo le amataina o se Pisinisi)
STEP 2 – Foreign Investment Registry
 Obtain a Foreign Investment Certificate (FIC) before applying for a Business
License and Foreign Employee Employment Permit (Resitala muamua mo le
FIC a o lei talosagaina se Laisene Pisinisi ma le Pemita Faigaluega)
 Applications are assessed against the Reserved and Restricted Lists under the
FIA 2000 (E iloiloina talosaga agai I Lisi Faaleoleo ma Lisi Fa’atapula’aina I lalo
o le Tulafono)
 Fees (Tupe Totogi)
 FIC – SAT100
 Amended FIC – SAT70
 FIC Renewal – SAT50
 Registered FIE are required to set up business within 2years fro mRegistration
date or FIC will be voided (E tatau ona amataina se pisinisi I totonu o le 2
tausaga mai ile aso na resitala ai)

21. Reserved Activities
(Lisi Fa’aleoleo)
 Businesses or economic activities reserved for the Citizens
of Samoa exclusively (Pisinisi o lo o faaleoleo mo
Tagatanu’u o Samoa)
1. Bus Transport for the General Public (Atina’e/Pisinisi o Pasi La’u
Pasese)
2. Taxi Transport for the General Public (Atina’e/Pisinisi o Ta’avale La’u
Pasese)
3. Rental Vehicles (Ta’avale Faaaogaina mo se taimi le tumau)
4. Retailing (Faleoloa)
5. Saw Milling (Vili La’au)
6. Traditional Elei Garment Designing and Printing (Elei)

22. Process for Setting up a Business
(Auala e uia mo le amataina o se Pisinisi)
STEP 3 – Business License (Laisene o Pisinisi)
 Business Requirement/ (Pisinisi e manaomia Laisene o Pisinisi)
 Sole Trader
 Partnership
 Joint Venture
 Company
 Business License Fees
 Sole Trader – WST220 per activity
 Partnership – WST220
 Joint Venture – WST220
 Company – WST500

23. Process for Setting up a Business
(Auala e uia mo le atamaina o se Pisinisi)
STEP 4 – Foreign Employee Employment Permit (Pemita
Faigaluega)
 Required by Law for any non citizen who wishes to work or set up
business in Samoa to hold a valid Work Permit (O ē e le o ni tagatā
nuu o Samoa o lo o fia faigaluega pe faatuina se pisinisi I Samoa e
tatau ona iai ni a latou pemita faigaluega)
 Application Process have a 5 to 10day turnaround process period
(E 5 ile 10 aso e iloiloina ai talosaga mo Pemita Faigaluega)
 Work Permits are issued by MCIL (O pemita Faigaluega e nafa ma
le MCIL)
 Residency Permits are issued by Immigration (O isi pemita e nafa
lea ma le Immigration)

24. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

25. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
Objective
Granting of citizenship status to an individual (and immediate family
members) contingent upon a specified and quantifiable investment in
Samoa.
Scheme is administered by MCIL under the Citizenship by Investment Act
2015 and Regulation 2015
Eligibility Criteria
 Intend to invest in any of the qualifying investment areas
 Minimum investment amount of SAT4m
 Minimum net worth of SAT2.5m

26. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT - FEES
Subject SAT($)
1. Application for investment (principal
applicant) plus:
a)Spouse
b)Dependent child (0-11)
c)Dependent child (12-17)
d)Dependent child (18)
120,000
120,000
60,000
60,000
120,000
2. Due diligence fees principal applicant
plus;
a)Spouse
b)Dependent child (0-11)
c)Dependent child (12-17)
d)Dependent child (18)
20,000
20,000
0
5,000
10,000
3. Application to promote or market scheme 1,000
4. Agency application 50,000