• Location: Situated in Polynesia about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It is about 2,890km from Auckland, 4,400km from Sydney and 8,400km from Los Angeles
• Capital: Apia (located on the island of Upolu)
• Population: About 165,000
• Languages: Samoan is the national language, English is the official language of business
• Legal System: English Common Law
• Currency: Samoa tala (approx. USD 1 : WST 3.03)
• Exchange Control: None
• Economy: Samoa’s economy has been largely dependent on agriculture. The manufacturing and service sectors are now becoming significant contributors to the GDP
• Time Zone: GMT -11
• Principal Corporate Legislation: International Companies Act 1987

Introduction

Known as Western Samoa until the prefix “Western” was dropped in 1997, Samoa is a group of Pacific islands located in the heart of Polynesia. Its two main islands are situated approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Samoa gained its independence from Great Britain in 1962, earning the distinction of being the first independent sovereign state in the South Pacific.

Samoa is a member of the British Commonwealth, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank.

The country’s infrastructure is well developed, with services offered by four commercial banks that are regulated in accordance with international standards of best practice. As well as Polynesian Airlines, Air New Zealand and Air Pacific have direct flights or connections to Los Angeles, Sydney, Auckland, Hawaii and other Pacific islands. International telecommunications are available 24 hours a day and international courier services are readily available.

Features and Benefits

• An independent sovereign nation with political, economic and social stability 
• Substantial tax advantages 
• User-friendly to Asian investors – a company can be registered with a Chinese-character name, and other foreign languages are permitted in addition to the English-language name of the company on the Certificate of Incorporation 
• Chinese-language M&As are available, and documents may be filed in any language with an English translation 
• Long Term International Companies available with discounts offered when paying 5-year, 10-year or 20-year licence fees in advance 
• Samoa’s legislation has strict confidentiality and secrecy provisions, sanctioned by heavy penalties written into each of the Acts forming its legal basis 
• Low Government fees for re-domiciliation