Chinese investors

Chinese officials and businessmen made speeches – their resumes beamed onto a giant screen at the luxury St. Regis hotel – as they celebrated the official launch of the Samoa Digital Asset Exchange, Samoa Stock Exchange and Oceania Blockchain Special Economic Zone.

A sprinkling of Westerners with finance industry backgrounds were introduced as advisers. Also revealed were a chief technology officer, chairmen, a chief operating officer and bright, generically abstract logos for each of the companies.

Aggie Grey's in Apia, Samoa has been sold by Aggie Grey's grandchildren and other family shareholders for $50 million.

Grey, born Agnes Swann, was a half English-half Samoan woman who opened the hotel in 1933. She hosted many notable actors, including Marlon Brando, and was friends with American writer James Michener. 

Her hotel is now managed by Sheraton, a 175-room establishment which was completely rebuilt after a devastating cyclone in 2012. The sale includes the hotel's Black Sands casino.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was responding to a question from KHJ News if his government was concerned at the number of local businesses being sold to Chinese interests.

Major sales of Samoan businesses to Chinese interests include the two Sheraton Aggie Greys resorts and the Tree House Hotel at Malololelei.

And more recently the Catholic Church has sold a major beach property on the northern east coast of Upolu island to another Chinese organisation.