Profile of Samoa

SAMOA comprises two main islands , (Savaii and Upolu, in addition to four smaller

islands. The capital, Apia,

is located on Upolu. Samoa is an inde pendent state with its own system of government made up of a Head of State, Prime Minister and a Legislative Assembly, or Fono. Samoa is a mem ber of the British Commonwealth.

Samoa is frequently referred to as “the cradle of Polynesia”. The large island of Savaii is said to be Hawaiki, the ancestral home of all Polynesians.

In 1899, Samoa became a German colony. In 1914, at the outbreak of World War 1, an expeditionary force from New Zealand took Samoa in the name of the allied powers. New Zealand control contin ued for 48 years. In January 1962, Western Samoa became the first independent nation

in the South Pacific. In 1997, the name was changed to Samoa.

The country is located between latitude 13 to 15 degrees south and longitude 168 to 173 east. The total land area is 2,934 square kilometres (with Savaii accounting for 1,820 square kilometres) and the exclusive economic zone cover 120,000 square kilo metres of ocean.

Samoa’s climate is generally wetter and warmer than its neighbours, Tonga and Fiji.

Although the southeast trade winds have a pleasant influence, the months from May to October are somewhat drier.

From December to April, heavy rains and tropical cyclones may occur. The annu al rainfall averages between 5,000 to 7,000 milimetres. The temperatures range from 23 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The indigenous people are of Polynesian descent. The 1998 estimates

forecast a population of 174,800 with an average density of 60 persons per square kilometre and a growth rate of 0.5 per cent per annum.

The National Department of Education is responsible for administering the edu cation system as the church schools work closely with the government.

Education is in three divisions; prima ry, intermediate and secondary.

Instruction is in English and the Samoan

language.

Tertiary institutions include a techni cal institute (which offers vocational training), the National University of Samoa and the University of the South Pacific (which has its second campus in Alafua). The adult literacy rate is estimat ed at 98 per cent.

The nation’s health is satisfactory and health services are generally adequate.

There is a national hospital in Apia, 16 district hospitals (nine in rural Upolu and seven in Savaii), in addition to 20 sub centres.

The health services also include mater nal and child health, family planning and immunisation programmes.

The three commercial banks operating in Samoa are the ANZ Bank, the National Bank of Samoa and the Pacific Commercial Bank.

The banks provide a full range of banking services to businesses and the public. The Development Bank of Samoa finances loans to industry and agriculture (usually for acquiring fixed assets for new

enterprises or modernising existing busi

nesses).

Samoa also benefits from its member ship of the World Bank (IBRD), Asian Development Bank and the International

Monetary Fund.

Labour is regarded as literate and inexpensive. Urban drift has increased the supply of labour in the capital and wages are generally low.

The government has in its reform pro

gramme, deliberately improved infra

structure facilities while offering attrac tive incentives for manufacturing and tourism industries.

These are important sectors for foreign investment. Access to the EU is through the Lome Convention and SPARTECA allows preferential trade access into New Zealand and Australia. * South Pacific Trade Directory, South Pacific Forum Secretariat, 1998 ■