Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour

What Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour does

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) is a government ministry of the Independent State of Samoa, established in 2003 under the Ministerial and Departmental Arrangements Act 2003 through the consolidation of the former Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry and the Department of Labour. It administers more than 30 pieces of legislation covering company registration, foreign investment certification, labour and employment relations, occupational safety and health, consumer protection and fair trading, intellectual property, and industry development. MCIL serves the full spectrum of Samoan economic actors — domestic businesses, foreign investors, employers, workers and job seekers, consumers, IP rights holders, and seasonal workers seeking overseas employment — operating as the sole national registry for companies, personal properties security (PPS), trade marks, patents, and industrial designs.

The ministry delivers services through a portfolio of digital government portals and physical offices. The Business Registries Online Portal (businessregistries.gov.ws) handles company filings, Foreign Investment Certificates, PPS Register transactions, and document lodging. IPROS (Intellectual Property Online Search) is hosted on WIPO publishing infrastructure at ipros.ws.publish.wipo.net for trade mark, patent, and industrial design searches. The MCIL Employment Portal connects domestic employers with job seekers and is currently undergoing a major upgrade, while the Samoa Trade Portal (samoa.tradeportal.org) provides import/export procedures, tariff information, and trade regulations. Physical distribution comprises the headquarters in Apia (Levels 3 & 4, ACC House), a Savai'i office in Salelologa, a dedicated LEEP office in the SNPF Building, and engagement across all 51 constituencies via the Fono Fa'avae District Council offices for labour mobility registrations. The LEEP In-Country Recruitment Database captures skills, language ability, health status, and seasonal work experience for workers across Upolu and Savai'i.

MCIL's revenue model is statutory fees collected on behalf of the Government of Samoa rather than retained by the ministry. Fees denominated in Samoan Tala cover company incorporation (SAT$250), annual returns (SAT$50), Foreign Investment Certificates (SAT$50 issuance and annual renewal), IP filings, and apprenticeship training contributions under a three-way government/employer/apprentice cost-share. Its go-to-market is direct: in-person at offices, online via portals, and through the District Council network. Strategic partnerships with WIPO, NUS (apprenticeship delivery), the Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission, MFAT, MOF, MCR, and overseas seasonal employers in New Zealand (RSE scheme) and Australia (PALM scheme) extend the ministry's reach beyond its statutory boundaries.

Name

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour

Legal name

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour

Website

https://mcil.gov.ws

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) is the government ministry of the Independent State of Samoa that administers 30+ Acts covering business registration, foreign investment, labour, consumer protection, and intellectual property, serving all Samoan businesses, workers, investors, and consumers through digital portals and offices in Apia and Savai'i.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Apia

HQ country

Samoa

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Statutory Fees and Charges: MCIL generates government revenue through statutory fees for business registrations (company incorporation, annual returns, name changes), Foreign Investment Certificates, FEEP permits, IP filings (trade marks, patents, designs), PPS Register transactions, and apprenticeship training contributions. Fees are set out in published schedules (e.g., Companies Act registration fee SAT$250, annual return SAT$50, FIC issuance SAT$50). Revenue is collected on behalf of the government rather than retained by the ministry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MCIL is a government ministry that administers more than 30 pieces of legislation governing business registration, foreign investment, labour and employment, occupational safety and health, fair trading, consumer protection, metrology, intellectual property, and industry development in Samoa. It serves as the sole national registry for companies, Personal Properties Securities (PPS) Register entries, trade marks, patents, and industrial designs, and operates digital service portals (Business Registries Online, IPROS, MCIL Employment Portal, Samoa Trade Portal) alongside physical offices in Apia and Salelologa. Through LEEP, MCIL is also the only official channel placing Samoan workers in New Zealand's RSE and Australia's PALM seasonal employment schemes.

Product overview

MCIL operates a portfolio of government service portals and programs rather than a unified software product. The core online platforms include the Business Registries Online Portal for company and investment registrations, the MCIL Employment Portal for domestic job matching, IPROS (built on WIPO infrastructure) for intellectual property searches, the Samoa Trade Portal for trade procedures, and the Document Library for publications. These are supported by programs including LEEP for labour mobility and the Samoa Codex Committee for food safety standards. The services are accessed through web-based portals with no unified product platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission (SCCC): Independent statutory body under MCIL that regulates prices, investigates anti-competitive practices, and handles consumer complaints.
• LEEP (Labour and Employment Export Programme)

Products and services

• Business Registries Online Portal Online portal at businessregistries.gov.ws handling company filings (incorporation, annual returns, name changes, amalgamation, restoration, overseas company registration, charge registration), Foreign Investment Certificate applications and renewals, and Personal Properties Securities (PPS) Register transactions. Accessible globally to foreign investors.
• MCIL Employment Portal National jobs platform connecting Samoa-based employers with people seeking employment within Samoa. Also the channel for apprenticeship scheme applications. Currently undergoing a major upgrade; interim registration is via email.
• IPROS — Intellectual Property Online Search Web-based system for searching and browsing published trade marks, patents, and industrial designs, and viewing the official IP journal. Built on WIPO infrastructure and accessible globally.
• Samoa Trade Portal Trade facilitation portal providing import/export procedures, tariff and duty information, required permits, and trade regulations to promote Samoa as an investment destination.
• Labour and Employment Export Programme (LEEP) MCIL division that facilitates overseas seasonal employment for Samoan workers under New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme and Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Manages an in-country recruitment database, employer demand processing, pre-departure briefings, and engagement with all 51 constituencies via Fono Fa'avae District Councils.
• Samoa Codex Committee (Codex Samoa) Food safety standards programme based on the international Codex Alimentarius framework, providing standards, committee activities and guidance for food businesses in Samoa.
• MCIL Document Library Digital repository of MCIL publications including annual reports, corporate plans, IP journals, forms, guides, public notices and legislation documents.
• Consumer Protection and Fair Trading Services (SCCC) Services delivered through the Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission, an independent statutory body administered through MCIL under the Competition and Consumer Act 2016. Covers fair trading enforcement, price control monitoring, metrology verification and consumer complaint handling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimum wage increased to SAT$5.24/hour effective 1 July 2026, rising to SAT$6.05/hour by 1 July 2028

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2026Samoa's delegation met WIPO Director General Daren Tang at the 68th WIPO Assemblies, deepening partnership on the Samoan Tatau Project, WIPO GREEN climate adaptation, education technology, and regional IP leadership. Samoa hosts WIPO workshops and a Pacific IP conference. WIPO provides IP training sponsorships including Master's in IP (Turin), Madrid Registry secondments, and Accessible Books Consortium collaboration.
• WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project (Samoa, Tonga, Fiji)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026WIPO announced Samoa's participation in the WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project, a technology-matching platform designed to support climate adaptation across Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. The platform connects countries with innovative climate adaptation technologies. Samoa agreed to host the WIPO GREEN Validation Workshop in October 2026.
• Pacific Islands Forum CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Pacific Island Forum Countries coordinated at the 68th WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva, with Samoa's Minister delivering the Pacific Joint Statement on traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and inclusive global IP system. The region aims to host a Pacific Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference in 2027.
• Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission (SCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The SCCC is an independent statutory body established under the Competition and Consumer Act 2016, administered through MCIL. MCIL investigates complaints and triages and routes to SCCC where appropriate. Four new Commissioners were appointed in July 2026 for a three-year tenure.
• National University of Samoa (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll seven trades under the Samoa Apprenticeship Training Scheme are taught at NUS's Faculty of Applied Science. Classroom theory sessions run Mondays–Thursdays, 5pm–8pm at NUS. MCIL coordinates internship and student-attachment placements with NUS throughout the year.
• Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCIL hosts internship and student-attachment placements in coordination with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition and visiting researchers.
• Samoa Trade PortalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCIL partners with the Samoa Trade Portal (samoa.tradeportal.org) to promote Samoa as an investment destination and provide procedures, tariffs, regulations, and trade information to investors and traders.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFAT co-chairs the Trade, Commerce and Manufacturing (TCM) Sector Steering Committee with MCIL, reporting through the Cabinet Development Committee. MFAT is a member of the TCM Sector and key partner in foreign investment promotion.
• Ministry of Finance (MOF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOF is a member of the TCM Sector Steering Committee and conveys Cabinet decisions on duty concession scheme approvals. MOF is also responsible for issuing business licences through the Ministry of Customs and Revenue.
• Ministry of Customs and Revenue (MCR/MOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCR issues business licences and administers duty concession approvals (Code 121, Duty Concession Scheme). MCR is a member of the TCM Sector Steering Committee. The Ministry of Revenue is also listed as a TCM Sector member.
• Samoa Business HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamoa Business Hub is a member of the TCM Sector, contributing to private sector development coordination and MSME support.
• Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSROS is a member of the TCM Sector and contributes technical and scientific expertise to industry development.
• Samoa Chamber of Commerce and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a member of the TCM Sector Steering Committee and its six Sector Working Groups, representing private sector interests in sector planning.
• Women In Business Development IncorporatedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen In Business Development Incorporated is a member of the TCM Sector, contributing to gender-inclusive enterprise development and MSME support.
• Tautai Programme (Australian Government)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tautai Programme funded by the Australian Government provided a Technical Assistant to MCIL for the review of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Act 1990.
• New Zealand Government — Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) SchemecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEEP facilitates seasonal employment for Samoan workers under New Zealand's RSE scheme (horticulture and viticulture). Employers in NZ lodge demand with MCIL, and candidates are drawn from the in-country database. The Minister undertakes LEEP visits in NZ to strengthen labour mobility partnerships.
• Australian Government — Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) SchemecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEEP facilitates temporary overseas employment for Samoan workers under Australia's PALM scheme (multiple sectors). Employers in Australia lodge demand with MCIL, and candidates are drawn from the in-country database.
• Samoa Export AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamoa Export Authority is a member of the TCM Sector, contributing to export promotion and market access.
• Samoa Association of Manufacturers and ExportersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters is a member of the TCM Sector and its working groups, representing manufacturing and export sector interests.
• Central Bank of SamoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Bank of Samoa is a member of the TCM Sector. MCIL also tracks LEEP remittance trends in partnership with the Central Bank.
• Samoa Bureau of StatisticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamoa Bureau of Statistics is a member of the TCM Sector and contributes data for trade and industry analysis.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MCILSamoa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-commerce-industry-and-labour

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour