A/CONF.191/CP/19 THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES Brussels, 14-20 May 2001 Country presentation by THE GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA NOTE The views expressed in this document are those of the Government concerned. The document is reproduced in the form and language in which it has been received. The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. A/CONF.191/CP/19 Government of Samoa AACCTTIIOONN PPRROOGGRRAAMMMMEE SSAAMMOOAA i TABLE OF CONTENTS SAMOA : SUMMARY OF SELECTED INDICATORS ...........................................................................................iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................................V 1. OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................................................................1 PART I : REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE IN THE 1990S 2 2. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................2 2.1 Inflation................................................................................................................................................................2 2.2 Employment and Wages:...................................................................................................................................2 2.3 External Trade and Balance of Payments......................................................................................................2 2.4 Government Finances/External Debt .............................................................................................................4 2.5 Tax and Tariff Reforms......................................................................................................................................5 2.6 Structural Changes and Sectoral Developments ..........................................................................................5 2.6.1 Productive Sector..........................................................................................................................................5 2.6.2 Social Sector and Services ............................................................................................................................7 2.7 Reform Strategies............................................................................................................................................ 10 PART II : OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS.............................................................................................. 11 3. ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT HAVE FACILITATED OR CONSTRAINED THE COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................................................11 3.1 Domestic Opportunities and Constraints.................................................................................................... 11 3.1.1 Peace and Social Stability...........................................................................................................................11 3.1.2 Economic Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................11 3.1.3 Policy Reforms ...........................................................................................................................................11 3.1.4 Conducive Environment for Private Sector Development .........................................................................12 3.1.5 Domestic Resource Mobilisation................................................................................................................13 3.1.6 Governance .................................................................................................................................................13 3.1.7 Gender.........................................................................................................................................................14 3.1.8 Environment ...............................................................................................................................................14 3.1.9 Human Resource Development..................................................................................................................15 3.1.10 Agriculture and the Rural Sector................................................................................................................15 3.1.11 Manufacturing.............................................................................................................................................16 3.1.12 Information Technology .............................................................................................................................16 3.1.13 HIV/AIDS Control......................................................................................................................................17 3.2 External Opportunities and Constraints ..................................................................................................... 17 3.2.1 Official Development Assistance (ODA)...................................................................................................17 3.2.2 External Debt Burden .................................................................................................................................19 3.2.3 The Export Sector.......................................................................................................................................20 3.2.4 Foreign Direct Investment..........................................................................................................................20 3.2.5 The Regional Cooperation Dimension .......................................................................................................21 3.3 Vulnerability to Shocks................................................................................................................................... 21 3.3.1 Financial Shocks .........................................................................................................................................21 3.3.2 Natural Disasters .........................................................................................................................................22 4. EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSES/BEST PRACTICES..........................................................................................23 PART III : PROGRAMME OF ACTION 2001 - 2005............................................................................................. 26 5. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................26 5.1 Vision................................................................................................................................................................. 26 5.1.1 Key Strategic Outcomes .............................................................................................................................26 5.2 Sectoral Objectives and Policies.................................................................................................................. 27 5.2.1 Public Administration .................................................................................................................................27 5.2.2 Law and Order............................................................................................................................................27 5.2.3 Economic Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................27 5.2.4 Productive Sectors ......................................................................................................................................28 5.2.5 Social Sectors and Services ........................................................................................................................29 5.3 Sectoral Programmes and Projects.............................................................................................................. 30 5.3.1 Public Administration .................................................................................................................................30 5.3.2 Law and Order............................................................................................................................................33 ii 5.3.3. Economic Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................34 5.3.4 Productive Sectors ......................................................................................................................................38 5.3.5 Social Sectors and Services ........................................................................................................................41 5.4 Costing of Programmes and Projects .........................................................................................................