16 tonnes of white copra leaving ENB for India

SIXTEEN tonnes of white copra has left the shores of East New Britain (ENB) this week for an overseas market.
This is the result of the collaborative effort by Kokonas Indastri Korporesen (KIK) and the Kokopo development authority.
The white copra is destined for India, the country’s biggest copra buyers Maricho.
The bulk of white copra came from two wards in Kokopo – Ramale ward – Vunamami urban local level government (LLG) and Korai in the Bitapaka LLG.
Korai ward lead farmer, who is also Bitapaka LLG president and ENB deputy governor, Cosmas Bauk, said the shipment was the first export by KIK and small holders from the two trial wards.
Bauk said white copra, which fetched a higher price than regular copra, would boost the local economy.
To mark the first shipment, the two lead farmers Bauk and Kokopo administrator John Talele of Ramale ward loaded the first two bags each into the container.
Meanwhile, with the Government’s price support intervention through the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, white copra is now selling at K4 per kg.