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Samoa: Practical Info  |
| Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carol MOSELEY BRAUN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631
FAX: [685] 22030
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. 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. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1998 est.)
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Agriculture - products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 8,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1994)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 178,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 790 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 458 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) |
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