## Samoa: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, January 31, 2025_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Samoa: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2025/01/31/samoa-selected-issues-561439)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2025/01/31/samoa-selected-issues-561439/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2025/01/31/samoa-selected-issues-561439/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2025/01/31/samoa-selected-issues-561439/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: January 31, 2025
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229000635.002

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### Key findings on remittances and AML/CFT risk
- Targeted analysis of money laundering/terrorism financing risks pertaining to remittances to Samoa confirms limited risks.
- Remittances play a crucial role in the Samoan economy and are an important source of income for many households.
- Addressing AML/CFT-related frictions when sending remittances has the potential to reduce remittance costs and save scarce supervisory resources.
- Correspondent banking relationship pressures on remittance service providers are an important consideration given the critical role of remittances.

### Operational and regulatory opportunities
- Operationalize existing remittances risk assessments to better target supervision and compliance efforts.
- Streamline applicable anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements to reduce unnecessary frictions in remittance flows.
- Enhance cooperation and information exchange between AML/CFT supervisors to:
  - reduce risk;
  - provide regulatory certainty;
  - reduce costs.
- Promote AML/CFT regulatory and legislative harmonization through strengthened supervisory collaboration.

### Policy context and considerations
- Recommendations should be considered in the context of broader national objectives to address the unintended consequences of money transfer operator de-banking.
- Due to the critical role of remittances, measures to address correspondent banking relationship pressures on remittance service providers should be considered alongside national objectives in social, labor, and foreign policies.

### Subjects and thematic focus
- Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT)
- Balance of payments
- Correspondent banking
- Financial sector and financial services
- Remittances and remittance corridors
- Medium taxpayer office; revenue administration
- Australia and New Zealand; Australia labour mobility; Pacific Islands

*Source: Samoa: Selected Issues, January 31, 2025 (IMF Staff Country Reports).*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Samoa: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 25/33; December 16, 2024**
  - [Samoa: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 25/33; December 16, 2024 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2025/english/1wsmea2025002-print-pdf.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Samoa: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 25/33; December 16, 2024 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2025/english/1wsmea2025002-print-pdf.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2025/01/31/samoa-selected-issues-561439_