Tax exemptions will be provided to any business that creates a new job, including in the tuna industry, according to American Samoa’s new governor Lolo Matalasi.
The government hopes this incentive will help develop the territory’s economy, which has mainly depended on the tuna industry for the last 30 years.
It says the amount of the exemption will depend on the company’s wage bill and the tax break would be good for up to 10 years as long as the job exists.
Locally owned businesses will also be assisted in getting venture capital through the Development Bank of American Samoa. The governor also wants to enforce the law that sets aside USD 500,000 for the Development Bank’s business loans.