Public administration sector contributes to economy

By Ivamere Nataro 22 February 2019, 12:00AM

The public administration sector contributed 1.4 per cent ($39.6 million) to Samoa’s overall gross domestic product of $486.6 million for the September 2018 quarter. 

This makes it the second highest contributor next to Commerce, which contributed $174.8 million, according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics gross domestic product overview of the September 2018 quarter. 

 Public administration was up both on a quarter on quarter and year on year basis by 13.6 per cent and 20.3 per cent respectively.

The industry recorded a value added of $39.6 million at constant prices 2009, and its share of GDP increased from 7.7 per cent in September 2017 to 9.6 per cent in September 2018. 

According to the quarterly overview, the positive performance was consistent with the 5.1 per cent increase in employment for the industry. 

Transport recorded a value added at constant 2009 prices of $20.7 million for the quarter, down by 12.3 per cent on year to year basis, which was a contribution of negative 0.6 per cent points to the overall GDP growth.

“The poor performance by the industry was consistent with a 15.9 per cent decrease in imports of machinery and transport equipment compared to September 2017.

“The sector has not been performing well since the beginning of 2018 when all air, land and sea transport services were affected by the cyclone.” 

Activity in the communication industry, the report said, decreased by 0.4 percent compared to the same period in 2017, which is attributed to the decreasing demand for their products and services during the period. 

However, the industry increased by 24 per cent compared to the previous quarter (June 2018). 

Financial services value added at constant prices stood at $14.6 million for the period under review, which was lower than its value added generated in September 2017 quarter

According to the report, this makes it the sixth consecutive quarter of negative growth for the industry, and it contributed a negative 1.1 percent to overall GDP. 

Business services value added stood at $120 million as activity in the industry fell 18.5 per cent in the quarter, making it the first negative quarterly performance following three consecutive quarters of positive growth rates.  

It contributed a negative 0.6 per cent to the overall GDP with a share of 2.1 per cent. 

At constant 2009 prices, personal and other services recorded an increase in value added of 2.4 per cent over the September 2017 quarter. 

The industry contributed 0.1 per cent to overall growth for the period, however the value added in the September 2018 quarter was the lowest produced by the industry since the $24.7 million recorded in the September 2017 quarter.    

By Ivamere Nataro 22 February 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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