A Filipino company has outlined plans to invest approximately $100m in a food processing plant in American Samoa.
The development is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs for locals. Construction work in slated to commence early next year, with personnel from A.V.M. Bernardo Engineering in the territory to complete the paperwork.
The food processing plant will focus initially on fish-based sausages, ham, nuggets and patties and will also produce coconut water, mango and other juices.
American Samoa Commerce Department director Keniseli Lafaele was quoted by the China Post as saying that the plant is expected to become operational in 2016.
The products will be sold duty-free in the US, as they will be produced in a US territory. They will also be exported to the Pacific region.
The project is the first major private-sector investment in American Samoa in many years.