Asia
OPEC countries
In most OPEC countries, the governments own the oil companies operating on their soil. A notable example is the Saudi Arabian national oil company, Saudi Aramco, which the Saudi government bought in 1988, changing its name from Arabian American Oil Company to Saudi Arabian Oil Company. The Saudi government also owns and operates Saudi Arabian Airlines, and owns 70% of SABIC as well as many other companies.
China
China's state-owned enterprises are owned and managed by the State-owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).[17] China's state-owned enterprises generally own and operate public services, resource extraction or defense.[17] As of 2017, China has more SOEs than any other country, and the most SOEs among large national companies.
China's SOEs perform functions such as: contributing to central and local governments revenues through dividends and taxes, supporting urban employment, keeping key input prices low, channeling capital towards targeted industries and technologies, supporting sub-national redistribution to poorer interior and western provinces, and aiding the state's response to natural disasters, financial crises and social instability.[18]
China's SOEs are at the forefront of global seaport-building, and most new ports constructed by them are done within the auspices of the Belt and Road Initiative.[19]
India
In India, government enterprises exist in the form of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Japan
During the Meiji era, Japan developed modern industry through direct state intervention.[20] Government-owned enterprises were important to the development of key economic sectors like railways.[20]
After Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and occupied the region, Japan took over Chinese public enterprises in Manchuria (many of which originated from the Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang regimes) and converted them to state-owned enterprises of the Japanese puppet-state of Manchukuo.[20]
Malaysia
The Malaysian government launched a GLC Transformation Programme for its linked companies and linked investment companies ("GLICs") on 29 July 2005, aiming over a ten-year period to transform these businesses "into high-performing entities". The Putrajaya Committee on GLC High Performance ("PCG"), which oversaw this programme, was chaired by the Prime Minister, and membership included the Minister of Finance II, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Secretary General of Treasury and the heads of each of the GLICs (the Employees Provident Fund, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (the armed forces pension fund), Lembaga Tabung Haji and Permodalan Nasional Berhad. Khazanah Nasional Berhad provided the secretariat to the PCG and managed the implementation of the programme, which was completed in 2015.[21]
Philippines
For the 2024 financial year, Landbank of the Philippines is the most profitable state-owned enterprise in the Philippines,[22] overtaking the 2023 leader Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) [23] The latter as of 2023, was the third-largest contributor to government revenues, following taxes and customs.[23]
OPEC countries
In most OPEC countries, the governments own the oil companies operating on their soil. A notable example is the Saudi Arabian national oil company, Saudi Aramco, which the Saudi government bought in 1988, changing its name from Arabian American Oil Company to Saudi Arabian Oil Company. The Saudi government also owns and operates Saudi Arabian Airlines, and owns 70% of SABIC as well as many other companies.
China
China's state-owned enterprises are owned and managed by the State-owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).[17] China's state-owned enterprises generally own and operate public services, resource extraction or defense.[17] As of 2017, China has more SOEs than any other country, and the most SOEs among large national companies.
China's SOEs perform functions such as: contributing to central and local governments revenues through dividends and taxes, supporting urban employment, keeping key input prices low, channeling capital towards targeted industries and technologies, supporting sub-national redistribution to poorer interior and western provinces, and aiding the state's response to natural disasters, financial crises and social instability.[18]
China's SOEs are at the forefront of global seaport-building, and most new ports constructed by them are done within the auspices of the Belt and Road Initiative.[19]
India
In India, government enterprises exist in the form of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Japan
During the Meiji era, Japan developed modern industry through direct state intervention.[20] Government-owned enterprises were important to the development of key economic sectors like railways.[20]
After Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and occupied the region, Japan took over Chinese public enterprises in Manchuria (many of which originated from the Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang regimes) and converted them to state-owned enterprises of the Japanese puppet-state of Manchukuo.[20]
Malaysia
The Malaysian government launched a GLC Transformation Programme for its linked companies and linked investment companies ("GLICs") on 29 July 2005, aiming over a ten-year period to transform these businesses "into high-performing entities". The Putrajaya Committee on GLC High Performance ("PCG"), which oversaw this programme, was chaired by the Prime Minister, and membership included the Minister of Finance II, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Secretary General of Treasury and the heads of each of the GLICs (the Employees Provident Fund, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (the armed forces pension fund), Lembaga Tabung Haji and Permodalan Nasional Berhad. Khazanah Nasional Berhad provided the secretariat to the PCG and managed the implementation of the programme, which was completed in 2015.[21]
Philippines
For the 2024 financial year, Landbank of the Philippines is the most profitable state-owned enterprise in the Philippines,[22] overtaking the 2023 leader Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) [23] The latter as of 2023, was the third-largest contributor to government revenues, following taxes and customs.[23]
Africa
Ethiopia
As of at least 2024, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest and most profitable airline, as well as Ethiopia's largest earner of foreign exchange.[24]
Ethiopia
As of at least 2024, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest and most profitable airline, as well as Ethiopia's largest earner of foreign exchange.[24]
Europe
In Eastern and Western Europe, there was a massive nationalization throughout the 20th century, especially after World War II. In the Eastern Bloc, countries adopted very similar policies and models to the USSR. Governments in Western Europe, both left and right of centre, saw state intervention as necessary to rebuild economies shattered by war.[25] Government control over natural monopolies like industry was the norm. Typical sectors included telephones, electric power, fossil fuels, iron ore, railways, airlines, media, postal services, banks, and water. Many large industrial corporations were also nationalized or created as government corporations, including, among many others: British Steel Corporation, Equinor, and Águas de Portugal.[26]
As of 2024, multiple European countries have dedicated ministries and agencies to manage their state-run enterprises, e.g. the Agence des participations de l'État in France.
Belarus
State-owned enterprises are a major component of the economy of Belarus.[27] The Belarusian state-owned economy includes enterprises that are fully state-owned, as well as others which are joint-stock companies with partial ownership by the state.[27] Employment in state-owned or state-controlled enterprises is approximately 70% of total employment.[27] State-owned enterprises are thus a major factor behind Belarus's high employment rate and a source of stable employment.[27]
North America
In North America, government-owned companies operate across a variety of sectors, including transportation, energy, finance, and media.
United States
In the United States, government-owned corporations typically operate in areas considered natural monopolies or those regarded as vital to the country's infrastructure, such as postal services, Amtrak railways, and public utilities.[28] U.S. government-owned enterprises are most often structured as independent agencies or government corporations, which are expected to operate efficiently while serving public needs. Examples include the United States Postal Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), and Intel, in which the U.S. government holds a partial stake to boost domestic semiconductor production.[29]
United States
In the United States, government-owned corporations typically operate in areas considered natural monopolies or those regarded as vital to the country's infrastructure, such as postal services, Amtrak railways, and public utilities.[28] U.S. government-owned enterprises are most often structured as independent agencies or government corporations, which are expected to operate efficiently while serving public needs. Examples include the United States Postal Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), and Intel, in which the U.S. government holds a partial stake to boost domestic semiconductor production.[29]
