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

OUTLINE

I. ABOUT US

II. OPPORTUNITIES IN DEVELOPING

AGRITOURISM

III. HOW WE CAN HELP

IV. CONCLUDING REMARKS

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)

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;

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;

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;

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.

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;

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.

II. OPPROTUNITIES – Specific

Tourist Operators

diversifying the mix of tourism products

and services available to visitors;

increasing tourism flows into attractive

rural regions;

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.

III. HOW WE CAN HELP

1. Setting up a BusinessesSTEP 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)

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)

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)

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

FA’AFETAI

Process for Setting up a Business(Auala e uia mo le amataina o se

Pisinisi)

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

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)

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)

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

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)

CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

ObjectiveGranting 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

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)

120,000120,000

60,000

60,000

120,000

2. Due diligence fees principal applicant

plus;

a)Spouseb)Dependent child (0-11)

c)Dependent child (12-17)

d)Dependent child (18)

20,000

20,0000

5,000

10,000

3. Application to promote or market scheme 1,000

4. Agency application 50,000