uri ELISAIA
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand, Ambassador Charles
J. SWINDELLS, is accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631/22696
FAX: [685] 22030

Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation

Economy Samoa

Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on
development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agriculture
and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms.
Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90%
of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The
manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The
decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism
is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000
tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has
called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of
investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime protecting the
environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market
as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves
are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and
inflation is low.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 23%
services: 63% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
90,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA%; note - substantial underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $105 million
expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2001-02)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries:
food processing, building materi