Trukai hires over 100 workers
TRUKAI has created more than one hundred new jobs as a result of its latest move to export rice to the Australasian market.
The company said it is now milling and packing rice in Lae to supply the Australasian market.
The milling operations have required workers of more than 100 men and women, the company said.
The export of rice to this market, says Trukai, has also increased Papua New Guinea’s balance of trade surpluses.
“Trukai’s high-tech manufacturing facility has been further upgraded to world-class food technology standard, and is processing paddy rice from Thailand and other sources for direct placement onto Australian and New Zealand supermarket shelves.
“Trukai has made a multi-million kina investment in the Lae rice mill, which now works 24 hours a day to meet demand for its packed products,” the company said in a press statement.
“We have employed extra people, because we have increased our work pattern from 10 shifts a week to 21. In other words we are now a 24-hour, seven-day operation,” Mr Olds said.
“This is the era of globalisation, and with new equipment and capital investment, plus the skills and determination of our staff; we are meeting the challenge of being a first-choice manufacturer.
“We meet the stringent quality standards of the Australian market, because we were already producing a top-quality product for our PNG customers.
“The new equipment, the planning and training, and the need to be globally competitive in our costs and productivity, are all driving the business to better performance levels.
“The news is good for PNG food processing, and it’s also a very tangible boost to the morale of our workforce.
“There are smiles all around the rice mill, as this new export stream creates jobs and adds value for PNG,” Mr Olds said.
“The opportunity to export to these markets has increased partly because prolonged drought conditions have reduced the domestic crop in Australia and also because PNG has demonstrated its ability to mill and pack to the highest standards, with some relative cost advantages.
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Code Notes TT
US$ 0.3440 0.3810
A$ 0.3684 0.4134
Pound 0.1720 0.1820
Euro 0.2250 0.2400
Sing$ 0.4784 0.4995
Peso 14.01 14.39