Independent State of Samoa

The Independent State of Samoa is an island country in the South Pacific, northeast of Fiji. It encompasses the western portion of the archipelago that also includes American Samoa. It is a parliamentary republic with around 200,000 inhabitants.

Samoa became a colony of Germany in 1899 and a territory of New Zealand in 1914, through a mandate granted by the League of Nations. The country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962, being the first Pacific country to achieve political emancipation.

The country's economy is traditionally dependent on subsistence agriculture and fishery. The main items produced are coconut, breadfruit, banana, cocoa, taro and ta’amu (the last two are roots). Fishery – especially tuna – contributed 2% of Samoan GDP in 2019 and sales of fish and seafood accounted for 1/3 of the country's exports in 2020. Tourism has also been growing consistently in recent years.

Brazil has maintained diplomatic relations with Samoa since February 1, 2005. The diplomatic relations were established on the occasion of the visit to Samoa of the official Brazilian mission headed by Ambassador Arnaldo Carrilho.

The Embassy of Brazil in Wellington is in charge, cumulatively, of diplomatic relations with the Independent State of Samoa. There are no bilateral agreements signed yet between Brazil and Samoa.

Bilateral trade flow, although small, is relatively high in comparison with the other island countries of the region and traditionally shows a deficit for Brazil. Brazil's export portfolio is concentrated in primary and food products, such as meat sausages (sausages, frankfurters, etc.), hides and skins, and tobacco. Brazilian imports, on the other hand, are concentrated in manufactured products, such as (computer) memories, electric circuit devices, and zinc by-products. In recent years, the trade exchange with Samoa has frequently surpassed the $2 million mark, and exceeded $3 million in 2011 and 2012. In 2021, the bilateral exchange exceeded $5 million for the first time, with a deficit of about $3 million for Brazil.

Samoa was hit by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. In solidarity with the Samoan government and people, the Brazilian government made a donation of $10,000 for humanitarian assistance.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2005 – First official Brazilian mission visits Samoa

2005 – Establishment of diplomatic relations

2009 – The Samoan Permanent Representative to the UN visits Brazil