## Samoa: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa

_IMF Staff Country Reports, May 17, 2019_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Samoa: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa](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)

## Other formats

- [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)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: May 17, 2019
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498315647.002

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### Economic outlook and inflation
- 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.

### Vulnerabilities and risks
- 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.

### Fiscal and monetary policy guidance
- 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.

### Structural reform priorities
- Implement structural reforms to boost potential growth and make it more inclusive.
- Introduce focused structural reforms on:
  - Building resilience to natural disasters.
  - Enhancing the business environment.
  - Encouraging female labor participation.
  - Improving the trade facilitation framework.

### Key thematic findings
- 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.

*IMF 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).*

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## Content in this bundle

- **1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions**
  - [1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/1wsmea2019002.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [1. Technology-Enabled Financial Access Solutions (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/1wsmea2019002.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: 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_