A Vietnamese barbeque stall at Matautu operated by a foreign vendor which was forced to close following a complaint, has reopened. 

Samoa Observer visited the stall on Saturday which was crowded with customers pulling in for takeaways.

In an interview with this newspaper, Tuan Van Nguyen the owner said his stall is operating under his friend's name and business.

“I received help from my Chinese business friend which enabled me to obtain a clearance report from the Ministry of Health and was given the green light to operate again,” he said.

“But I will receive my license again after the holidays as I said before I will open again.”

Samoa Observer obtained the medical certificate from the Ministry given under the name of Nan Wang and her business, TTN Company Limited.

"This notice serves to confirm that Nan Wang has successfully complied with health requirements prescribed by Food Act 2015 and Health Ordinance 1959 to operate a restaurant (TTN Company Ltd) located at Matautu," the certificate reads.

"The Ministry of Health will monitor the above business premise from time to time to ensure food safety standards are maintained."

The stall was closed for business for more than a month and only reopened on Saturday.

Last month, the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor (M.C.I.L) issued a public notice warning non-Samoan citizens who are engaging in businesses reserved for Samoans last month.

The notice, signed by the Chief Executive Officer Pulotu Lyndon Chu highlighted that this is against the Foreign Investment Act 2000.
Under section 3 (1) The business or economic activities listed in Schedule 1 are reserved for citizens of Samoa exclusively, and no approval may be given under this Act or any other law for a non-citizen to own or participate in any business or venture that includes any of the activities in the Reserved List.