15 Dec 2017

Huge boost for Samoa with new companies replacing Yazaki

From , 6:04 am on 15 December 2017

Samoa Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, has officially given two new companies the keys to the old Yazaki facilities.

Yazaki, which operated in Samoa for 25 years, closed its doors earlier this year, putting hundreds of people out of work.

Two companies with links to New Zealand, Sleepwell and Fero, will initially employ just a few dozen people but both plan to quickly develop.

Don Wiseman spoke with our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia who was at the ceremony and began by asking if Ferro is essentially a Chinese company.

Fero manufacturers wire looms and harnesses that go into products such as traffic lights.

Auckland company Fero manufacturers wire looms and harnesses that go into products such as traffic lights. Photo: SUPPLIED