Local products crucial

By DALE LUMA
PNG-made products are important because it means more jobs for Papua New Guineans, Paradise Foods Ltd chief executive officer James Rice says.
Rice said the industry accounted for 50 per cent of jobs in the country.
He said although the manufacturing sector contributed to only 5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), it was one of the biggest employers.
“Manufacturers are only five per cent of the GDP of our country but we have 50 per cent of the jobs,” he told The National.
“That’s why PNG-made products are so important because that means PNG jobs.
“So we create even more jobs when we source from PNG. And companies like mine create even more jobs because we buy our packaging, key ingredients, cardboard boxes and flavours locally.”
Rice said PNG had a competitive market.
“So you need to have a good product, trustable brand and affordable price to survive in PNG,” he said.
He said the state of emergency, now into its eighth week, did not affect Paradise Foods Ltd.
“We produce core food items that Papua New Guineans trust,” he said. “So our sales are very strong and we have had no negative impact.”