{
  "title": "Samoa: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa",
  "publication": "IMF Staff Country Reports, May 17, 2019",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/index.md",
  "summary": "This 2019 Article IV Consultation discusses that Samoa faces several economic challenges but continues to show resilience and a high level of engagement with IMF. Growth is expected to rebound after reaching a five-year low.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Economic outlook and inflation",
      "content": "- Growth is expected to rebound after reaching a five-year low.\n- Price pressures driven by temporary factors are receding.\n- Inflation is projected to return to below the authorities’ target of 3 percent."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Vulnerabilities and risks",
      "content": "- Samoa remains vulnerable to natural disasters.\n- Samoa faces correspondent banking relationship (CBR) pressures.\n- The authorities have made progress in implementing measures to mitigate these risks."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Fiscal and monetary policy guidance",
      "content": "- Policies should focus on tightening fiscal policy to ensure sustainability while achieving progress towards development goals.\n- It is important to tighten fiscal policy compared to the baseline.\n- Improve the monetary policy transmission mechanism."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Structural reform priorities",
      "content": "- Implement structural reforms to boost potential growth and make it more inclusive.\n- Introduce focused structural reforms on:\n  - Building resilience to natural disasters.\n  - Enhancing the business environment.\n  - Encouraging female labor participation.\n  - Improving the trade facilitation framework."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key thematic findings",
      "content": "- Samoa faces several economic challenges but continues to show resilience and a high level of engagement with IMF.\n- Mitigating risks from CBR pressures is a policy priority alongside fiscal consolidation and structural reforms.\n\nIMF Staff Country Report: Samoa: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa (May 17, 2019).\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- 1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions\n  - 1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - 1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Published: May 17, 2019",
    "Series: IMF Staff Country Reports",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498315647.002",
    "Growth is expected to rebound after reaching a five-year low.",
    "Price pressures driven by temporary factors are receding.",
    "Inflation is projected to return to below the authorities’ target of 3 percent.",
    "Samoa remains vulnerable to natural disasters.",
    "Samoa faces correspondent banking relationship (CBR) pressures.",
    "The authorities have made progress in implementing measures to mitigate these risks.",
    "Policies should focus on tightening fiscal policy to ensure sustainability while achieving progress towards development goals.",
    "It is important to tighten fiscal policy compared to the baseline.",
    "Improve the monetary policy transmission mechanism.",
    "Implement structural reforms to boost potential growth and make it more inclusive.",
    "Introduce focused structural reforms on:",
    "Samoa faces several economic challenges but continues to show resilience and a high level of engagement with IMF.",
    "Mitigating risks from CBR pressures is a policy priority alongside fiscal consolidation and structural reforms.",
    "**1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/1wsmea2019002.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/1wsmea2019002.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/1wsmea2019002.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/05/17/samoa-2019-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-staff-statement-and-statement-46906/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-12T13:34:14.413Z"
}