Investing in Samoa

CBS Securities are government-related short-term instruments with maturities of 14, 28, 56, 91, 182 and 365 days. They are offered through weekly tenders under a prospectus and operational guidelines, and the holder receives a certificate of title. The applicable maturity and repayment terms should be checked in the current offering documents. Government securities may also be issued or administered by the CBS as fiscal agent. UTOS is an open-ended private unit trust. Its portfolio can contain cash, term deposits, bonds, shares, property, government or state-owned-enterprise loans and offshore investments. Access is available to Samoan citizens, people of Samoan descent, permanent residents, businesses and associations, subject to the trust documents and application checks. At least 25 units are required. The net asset value and unit price are calculated monthly, normally on the first Wednesday. On 9 September 2026, the published issue price was SAT 1.96 and the withdrawal price was SAT 1.94. Redemption uses the unit price less a 1% exit fee. UTOS does not guarantee capital, performance or dividends, and redemptions may be temporarily suspended during market stress. Unitholders share in profits or dividends, may redeem or transfer units under the rules, receive annual reporting and have liability limited to the amount invested, but they do not direct individual assets. SNPF is a contribution-based retirement and education savings system. Its investment areas include lending, property development, equity, bonds and term deposits, and offshore investments. Retirement access from age 55 can take the form of a lump sum or a lifelong fortnightly pension under the applicable rules. The Education Fund is restricted to tertiary education and purpose-specific withdrawals. Private company investment requires checks on the registered company, ownership, directors, financial position and shareholder records. Samoa Company Registry searches can help establish the legal ownership, but private shares do not have daily exchange pricing or an automatic market for resale. Property investment also requires title and lease due diligence. About 81% of Samoa's land was identified as customary land in the 2025 National Infrastructure Plan, and customary land cannot be sold or mortgaged in the same way as freehold land. Leasing under the Leasing and Licensing of Customary Land Act 1965 can last up to 30 years for an authorised hotel or industrial purpose and generally up to 20 years for other purposes. Government land accounts for about 15% and freehold land about 4% in the cited national overview. Check the Computer Folio, registered lease, permitted use, lease term, lessor authority and customary decision-making before committing funds. Investing in overseas securities, funds or businesses generally requires prior CBS approval under Samoa's exchange-control rules. An application may require the prospectus, source-of-funds evidence, audited accounts where applicable, ownership and operating details, and an explanation of how returns will be brought back to Samoa. Capital and profit repatriation is permitted when the required documents and approvals are in place; complete applications are generally handled within three days. Offshore providers also create external custody, foreign-exchange, reporting and counterparty risks. The Common Reporting Standard can require tax information exchange. A Foreign Investment Certificate (FIC) concerns a foreign-owned or foreign-shareholding business operating in Samoa; it does not automatically apply to every personal securities account. An FIC is valid for 12 months and requires annual renewal and a status report. The Reserved List is limited to Samoan citizens, while the Restricted List may require an equity cap, local joint venture or Samoa incorporation. Current listed FIC fees are SAT 50 for lodgement, SAT 50 for issuance, SAT 50 for annual renewal and SAT 70 for amendment. Company registration and business-licence fees vary by structure and activity and can change. The Securities Act 2006 requires a public offer to use a registered Information Memorandum, and advertising must not be misleading or deceptive. The Unit Trusts Act 2008, the Exchange Control Regulations 1999 and the relevant trust deed or prospectus can impose additional duties. Tax treatment depends on the investor and instrument. The cited current rates include company income tax of 27%, individual annual income tax of 0% up to SAT 15,000, 20% from SAT 15,001 to SAT 25,000 and 27% above SAT 25,000, and capital gains tax of 27%. The first SAT 50 of interest for a resident individual is exempt, while non-resident withholding tax can be 15% on legally covered Samoa-source payments. The UTOS prospectus states that trust income or units may be capital-gains-tax exempt, but that treatment carries legislative and policy-change risk. Fees can materially reduce returns. UTOS currently lists a management fee of 1.20% of net assets per year, a 1% exit fee and a 1% transfer fee, with no current entry fee. The trustee fee is listed as SAT 30,000 per year plus 0.5% of comprehensive income; audit confirmation is SAT 50 and administration is SAT 10. Confirm current fees before investing. Samoa-specific risks include limited liquidity, concentration in a small market or state-related assets, credit and default risk, inflation and interest-rate changes, Tala and foreign-exchange movements, approval or repatriation delays, land-title and lease disputes, eligibility limits, tax changes, cybercrime, money-laundering exposure and scams. CBS and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour have issued scam warnings. There is no evidenced licensed retail investment offer through a Samoa Stock Exchange or Samoa Digital Asset Exchange; a proposed 2023 concept does not establish a regulated market.