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RD Tuna targets cannery project in the Solomons

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
RD Tuna Canners Ltd is among a number of significant private investment groups showing interest to invest in downstream fishing and processing of loins and canned tuna in the Solomon Islands.
A statement yesterday from the Solomon Islands government media office noted that these firms from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines had shown interest following a recent government’s announcement of its intention to refocus and restructure the country’s entire fisheries industry at the advise of the fisheries advisory council.
“Technical experts have noted that the Solomon Islands is situated within one of the world’s richest tuna vicinities known as the ‘tuna belt’ which accounts for a significant proportion of the entire global tuna catch conservatively valued at over US$6 billion (K16.77 billion) per annum.”
“With that realisation, the government is keen to restructure the tuna industry to ensure tuna operations and activities take full advantage of the resources and that it maximises the benefits to the country,” the media office noted.
The statement added that RD Tuna along with other overseas investment group had expressed confidence in the tuna industry redirection and also their readiness to seriously consider investing in Solomon Islands in downstream fishing and process of loins and canned tuna.