State-Owned Enterprise

A state-owned enterprise (SOE) or a government-owned enterprise (GOE) is a commercial firm in which the government or the state has substantial influence over the operation via ownership of the whole company, a majority of the company, or a large minority of the company. Among the distinctive features of SOEs are their unique legal structure, as well as their operation in business transactions and operations. Even while they may pursue public policy objectives (for example, a state railway firm may seek to make transportation more accessible), SOEs are to be distinguished from government agencies or state organisations that were created only for the purpose of pursuing nonfinancial goals.