Investing

flag Marshall Islands Marshall Islands: Investing

FDI in Figures

FDI flows into the Marshall Islands, which depend on the American economy, have strongly decreased since 2008 following the global crisis. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI inflows increased from USD 0.5 million to USD 3 million between 2021 and 2022. At the end of the same period, the total stock of FDI stood at USD 170 million. Foreign companies mostly invested in the Marshall Islands' tourism industry, particularly in the hotel and resort sectors. Foreign investors have also shown interest in the country's fishing industry due to its rich marine resources. The primary sources of FDI in the Marshall Islands come from countries such as the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and China.

Foreign investment is governed by the Foreign Investment Business License Act. The Marshallese government formally encourages foreign investment, especially in the following sectors: fisheries, aquaculture, deep-sea mining, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, and agriculture. Tax and duty exemptions are available for investments in certain private-sector industries (i.e., off-shore or deep-sea fishing; manufacturing for export or both export and local use, agriculture, hotel and resort facilities). Nevertheless, foreign investment is complicated by laws that prevent non-Marshallese from purchasing land: as there is no public land in the country, foreign businesses must lease land from private landowners to operate their businesses. Furthermore, the costs of doing business are relatively high due to the high costs of communications and utilities, poor infrastructure, the dependence on imported materials and services, and relatively high import duties. Foreign investment is restricted in certain small-scale retail and service businesses, including small-scale agriculture and marine culture for local markets, small retail shops, car rentals, deli shops, etc. Since independence, the country has operated under a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which was set to expire in September 2023. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the renewal of the economic provisions of the Compact in January 2023. The new Compact of Free Association agreement was approved by the United States on March 9, 2024, and will deliver a total of USD 6.5 billion in assistance to the three North Pacific countries (Marshall Islands, Palau, and Micronesia) over the next 20 years starting in FY24. The Marshall Islands have been removed from the EU and OECD’s list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

 

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

  Marshall Islands East Asia & Pacific United States Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency* 2.0 5.9 7.0 5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** 8.0 6.7 9.0 5.0

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.

 
Foreign Direct Investment 202020212022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) 303
FDI Stock (million USD) 154.1167.2169.8

Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

 

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Tax Rates

Sales tax
Sales Tax between 2% and 4%
Company Tax
USD 80 on the first USD 10,000 of revenue, 3% on the excess
Withholding Taxes
Dividends: 0%, Interests: 0%, Royalties: 0%.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers
7% (retirement fund); plus 3.5% (health fund), with a maximum taxable wage of USD 5,000 per employee per calendar quarter.
Other Domestic Resources
Ministry of Finance
Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.
 
 

Individual Taxes

Wages and salaries tax Progressive rates to 12%
USD 0 - 10,400 8%
Above USD 10,400  12%
 
 

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

  Marshall Islands East Asia & Pacific United States Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year 9.0 23.4 10.6 9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) 56.0 195.1 175.0 218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) 65.9 33.8 36.6 48.8

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

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Investment Opportunities

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement
Tenders Info, Tenders Worldwide
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide
Setting Up a Company
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Marshall Islands.
Useful Resources
Office of commerce and investment (OCIT)
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Marshall Islands East Asia & Pacific
Procedures (number) 5.00 7.25
Time (days) 17.00 29.73

Source: Doing Business.

 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024