Businesses Fear Unfair Competition posed by Chinese Company Operating in Samoa

By Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 16 April 2025 – The local business sector is concerned over potential unfair competition posed by a Chinese company operating locally and directly competing with local businesses in the building market.

The other major concern is that WILCO Ltd is a China State Owned Enterprise which means it is owned by the Chinese Government with directors and shareholders residing in Hong Kong.

The concern is that as a State Owned Enterprise, WILCO has the financial backing from the Chinese Government with the capacity to dominate the local market through flooding the market and undercut prices to kill local competition.

From Vanuatu to Samoa
WILCO Ltd. came to Samoa from Vanuatu and was registered with the Ministry of Commerce Industry & Labour (MCIL) in Samoa on 22 May 2024.

Its business activity is listed as a trading company in wholesale and retail with a local address at Saleufi.

However, local businesses have filed a complaint with MCIL as the company has engaged in supplying building materials.

The complaint was filed under the Samoa Competition and Consumers Act 2016, Section 28 for the Minister to Consider Effect on Competition where (1) A Minister must have regard to the effects on competition in markets in Samoa of any government decision in which that Minister participates.

The section clarifies the role of the Minister in considering the effect of such competition on the local market before any decision is made.

However, after several meetings with the MCIL senior officials over the complaint, communications suddenly stopped and the complaint remain unresolved.

After unanswered emails and unsuccessful visits to the MCIL office to follow up any progress on the complaint, the Chief Executive Officer’s Secretary told Talamua that the CEO cannot respond to the queries as “only the Minister is authorized to talk about the companies in question.”

Efforts to get to the Minister of MCIL were also unsuccessful as we were told at his office that he was on his way to fly out of the country.

China Government State Owned Enterprise
An online company search with MCIL Companies portal shows only the directors of the company who all reside in China but access to shareholders is blocked.

Further searches show that WILCO Ltd is owned by China National Building Material Investments Co. Ltd (CNBMI).

Another company, the China National Building Material Investment Logistics Co. Ltd with 100% shares is also linked to CNBMI Co. Ltd.

CNBMI Co. Ltd, and CNBMI Logistic Co. Ltd are owned by the China National Building Material Co. Ltd and all shareholders of these companies reside in Beijing, China.

A company search requested in Hong Kong confirmed that WILCO is owned by the China National Building Material Investment Co. Ltd (CNBMI) which is owned by the China National Building Material Co. Ltd (CNBM).

The search also confirmed that the China National Building Material Co, Ltd is a China Government State Owned Enterprise.

“CNBM Co. Ltd is a Hong Kong listed company. Although there are many public shareholders in Hong Kong, according to its annual report, such as CNBM Co. Ltd is still actually firmly controlled by the China Government State Owned Enterprise in Beijing China.”

The search also confirmed that the Chinese Government is the controlling shareholders and beneficiaries of the companies.

Influence on national security & politics
Meanwhile, the government officials in MCIL who were responsible for registering the company in Samoa, are evading giving information on the company’s activities in relation to the local complaint.

Aside from the business sector, concerns have also been raised on the potential influence a China State Owned Company can have on the Samoan people, government and local politics by allowing a foreign Government power over Samoa’s economy and national interests.