Seeto Kui (Holdings) Limited

Young James Seeto commenced boarding school in Sydney during early 1950 but was recalled back to Lae in 1952 due to his father’s illness and to take over the running of the family trade store.

He has been involved in the running of the business ever since.

Seeto Kui passed away on March 18, 1972, and was buried in Lae.

James Seeto has been active in the Lae community over the years including participation in fundraising committees, social clubs and organisations, local government councils and government statutory institutions.

He has held the following positions in the past, by election, appointment, or voluntarily:
          – Lae Chinese Club – Foundation Member, President for many years;
          – Morobe Chinese Association – Foundation member, President for many years;
          – Lae Rotary Club – member, all directorships, President;
          – Lae Golf Club – member, Vice President, Life Member;
          – Bank of Papua New Guinea Board – board member by appointment;
          – Lae Harbour Board – board member by appointment;
          – Town Advisory Council – board member by appointment;
          – Lae City Council – Elected, as board member of 14 years, the various positions held from times as Executive Finance Chairman,                 Building Board Chairman, and Vice President.

Mr Seeto has also been a member of committees in various organisations including:
         · Salvation Army;
         · Red Cross Appeal;
         · Heart Foundation Appeal;
         · University of Technology Appeal;
         · Lae Chamber of Commerce; 
         · Disaster appeals created as required from time to time and supported by the Seeto Kui Group of Companies.

His efforts and contribution to the community have been officially recognised with the award of an MBE in 1980, and more recently, a CSM and the PNG Anniversary Medal during 2006.

The Seeto Kui business was further developed extensively with the assistance of James’ brothers, Robert, Ronald and Danny, and included the establishment of further wholesale and distribution outlets in Lae, dealing in trade store goods, general merchandise and supermarket lines.

Additional branches were subsequently established in Port Moresby, Mount Hagen and Goroka.

The Mt Hagen and Goroka outlets have since been sold, but the business with the Highlands has in fact grown since then through trading with clients based in those areas, serviced by traveling representatives, who also travel extensively throughout the country to service customers.

James Seeto and the Seeto Kui Organisation has been involved in Mainland Plumbing Supplies (N.G.) Limited, based in Lae, since its incorporation in 1972, in both a managerial and minor equity capacity.

The majority shares in the company were purchased by the Seeto Kui organisation during 1989 and a branch has since been opened in Port Moresby.

Ardrossan Investments Pty Ltd, trading under the name of Bowmans – Lae, was purchased in 1991 and this hardware and construction business has further grown with diversification and the development of the stationery and office supplies division.

The business that was started by Seeto Kui with 100 Pounds nearly 70 years ago is now a substantial multi-million Kina business with nearly 1000 employees, distributing throughout Papua New Guinea in the grocery, variety, supermarket, plumbing supplies, hardware, construction, and stationery and office supplies market.

The Seeto Kui Organisation holds an enviable portfolio of local and overseas agencies including many internationally-recognised brands and the component of this business continues to grow.

The development of training facilities within the organisation has been highly successful with a large number of in-house training programmes on offer.

This is considered an important investment in, not only the development of the workforce, but also in the long-term success of the business.

The Seeto family has traditionally preferred to reinvest in growing the business and creating employment within Papua New Guinea, rather than transfer profits offshore.

The establishment of the Food Mart supermarket in Lae is a recent example of this policy and represented a huge investment in the local community.

The Seeto Kui Group of Companies underwent a company amalgamation during early 2005 and the organisation now trades as Seeto Kui (Holdings) Limited.

James Seeto and his family have lived and worked in Papua New Guinea for four generations and their shared vision is to continue to invest and assist in the development of Papua New Guinea for now and the future.