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Economic Development

To stimulate & diversify American Samoa’s economy by facilitating business development & financing, providing technical assistance & promoting commerce & industry.

Economic Development Division (EDD) has as its primary goals the stimulation and diversification of American Samoa’s economy; the promotion of exports and replacement of imports with local products; and creation of new and better employment opportunities throughout the Territory. It shall be the overall function of EDD to advance the implementation of economic development policies, goals, and objectives inherent in the strengthening and expansion of the local business sector; increasing export earnings by attracting foreign capital investment in manufacturing and processing; creating economic surplus by expanding the economic contributions of tourism, fisheries, agriculture and telecommunications; and increasing the multiplier effect of every federal dollar entering the territory. The EDD assumes a very important function due to its implications on the entire territory.

Included in these efforts are the attraction of new industry and expansion of present industries in the Territory. Four basic programs are carried out to achieve these goals: small business technical assistance program; small business information assistance service program; small business financial assistance program; small business awareness and referral service program. EDD also maintains a significant role in the formulation of Territory policies, plans and strategies to meet current issues and problems related to the social, economic and environmental concerns.

Furthermore, the EDD is to enhance the economic development of the Territory by providing plans, analyses and policy recommendations on economic issues; by conducting basic research into the economy of the Territory; and by compiling, interpreting statistics on a wide range of business activities as well as other economic sectors of the Territory. The responsibility for promotion and management of the Senator Inouye Industrial Park lies within the EDD. In addition, EDD works in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) to fund public infrastructure project to lay the groundwork for economic expansion. Moreover, EDD is responsible for administering, processing and enforcement of business licensing, regulations and laws in the Territory.

2015 Minimum Wage Poster (FLSA)

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that all businesses with employees post up the minimum wage poster in a visible place for employees. Download a copy of the minimum wage poster by clicking on the link below. Federal Minimum Wage in American Samoa (as of September 30, …

Business

If you are looking to start a new business or would like to learn about investing in American Samoa, the Department of Commerce has all the information you need to get started. If you would like to apply for a business license, please print and fill out the online copy of the application and bring it to …

Fagatogo Marketplace

The new marketplace is aimed at several important needs that go beyond its original purpose to serve our local farmers.  New objectives include the need: To expand the variety and amount of local products that our farms and plantations can bring to us; To develop a regulated place for our local fishermen to easily reach …

State Small Business Credit Initiative

State Small Business Credit Initiative Created by the “Small Business Jobs Act of 2010”, the SSBCI is aimed to increase credit availability for small businesses. Funded with $1.5 billion to be used by the U.S. Treasury to provide direct support to states and territories for use in programs designed to increase access to credit for …

Tafuna Industrial Park

The development of the Tafuna Industrial Park (TIP), respectfully known as “Senator Daniel K. Inouye” Industrial Park, was conceived out of the desire of the American Samoa Government to diversify its economic base and reduce its reliance on the Federal Government for financial support. The American Samoa Government, through the Department of Commerce and its …

Invest in American Samoa

American Samoa is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

With over 70 years of experience with multi-national corporations, American Samoa has developed a definitive industrial and institutional infrastructure suitable for medium to large-scale operations.

The late ASTCA  CEO Puleleiite Tufele Jr. at the Hawaiki submarine cable landing April 2018.

Our territory boasts a modern infrastructure which places American Samoa at the forefront of the dynamic economic growth sweeping through the Pacific region. Some of these features include a state-of-the-art telecommunications network,  expanded industrial park, international airport, modern deep-water port, and an educated & skilled labor pool.

American Samoa is also the ideal gateway to the United States market.  Our territory receives preferred access the the US market, whereby products that are manufactured in the territory enter the mainland US duty free.  With regular air and ocean freight shipping to the US, American Samoa can give foreign companies the competitive edge they may need to enter or compete in the US market.

The Port of Pago Pago is one of the deepest natural harbors in the Pacific.

There are also opportunities for new businesses to receive tax exemptions via the Industrial Incentives Act.  These incentives may be granted by the Governor to qualifying business enterprises.  In addition, there are no gross receipt taxes, property taxes, or sales taxes in American Samoa.

American Samoa is eager to welcome offshore investors who seek to create a partnership that benefits  your shareholders and the people of American Samoa.  We are committed to these partnerships and want everyone to know that American Samoa is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

American Samoa Foreign Investment Program

Invest in American Samoa, the only US territory in the South Pacific! American Samoa is an ideal place to invest, visit, work, or live!  The beauty of this ancient island group is something you have to see for yourself. Tourism is primed and ready to become a growth industry as American Samoa remains an unspoiled …

Invest in American Samoa

Invest in American Samoa 2014.PDF

Investment Guide 2014

Investment Guide 2014.PDF

Opportunity Zones

Qualified Opportunity Zones were created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These zones are designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities throughout all 50 States, District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories by providing tax benefits to investors who invest eligible capital into these communities.  All census tracts …

http://doc.as.gov/