More than 200 Samoans will be employed in the construction of a new Savalalo Market as the multi-million dollar project gets underway after the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

The old Savalalo Flea Market was destroyed in a fire in 2016. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Leata Lei Sam, Chief Executive Officer of Zheng Construction Company Limited which won the bid for the construction explained that their company is a Samoan company that will employ over 200 Samoans. 

"There are some anti-Chinese people who are saying things about my team," she said.

"We are a locally owned company and not a Chinese company and there are only two shareholders and directors of the company and that's Leata Lei Sam and Pei Zhen Wung.

"We employ more than 200 Samoan people and only 150 Chinese."

Asked about whether the maintenance comes with the construction, Leata said yes but for 12 months.

"Every job comes with a maintenance period of 12 months," she said.

The $24.9 million project is funded by the Government of New Zealand which contributed NZD$12 million and the Samoan government contributed SAT$10 million.

The ground-breaking ceremony to officially start the 18 months of work was held on Tuesday and attended by the cabinet and members of the diplomatic corps.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa stressed that this is another major government project to enhance the development of the Apia central business township.

"The goal of this project is for the Government of Samoa to successfully rebuild the Savalalo Market in the original waterfront location. I am happy to say this is the original place where the former market was built," she added.

"The outcome to be achieved for this project as discussed by both partners (Samoa and New Zealand) includes sustainable recovery and growth of the local construction industry, private sector and local vendors.

"Improving gender-inclusive job creation in the small businesses that will have the opportunity to be vendors in the market and contributing early to positive impressions of tourists to Samoa to aid the strength and speed of the recovery of the tourism sector.

"Furthermore, this project will cater to our small business entrepreneurs such as flea market operators, handicrafts, small restaurants and mini offices for our local people."

It was initially planned to build the new flea market at Sogi by the previous government but the new government decided the best place was Savalalo, its original place. 

"Why? This place is central and very ideal for our people whenever they come to Apia. It is easily accessible and cheap when compared to going to Sogi. 

"It is a place the previous market was built more than four decades ago and it's an iconic site where our people congregate and meet, producers and sellers of goods ranging from agricultural to handicrafts to fish and shellfish to small food stalls like pani keke and aisakulimi and much more."

The detailed design and construction of the new Savalalo Flea Market project is expected to take 18 months and will be completed in by September 2025.