Boat to boost trade

BILATERAL trade on the PNG-Indonesian bor­-
der at Wutung, West Sepik, will gain momentum when a boat specifically designed for trade leaves Forok village on the East Coast of Wewak in two weeks.
Built from wood to match the specifications from the people of Suruwi Island in Jayapura, the canoe 17m long and has 1.5m wide outriggers.
It is the brain-child of East Sepik provincial statistician Leo Komang, who initiated the alternative mode of transport to boost trade at Batas as travel by vehicle from Wewak is unreliable.
The boat will ferry passengers and cargo from Wewak to Vanimo to trade with people in Vanimo, Batas and parts of Papua province on the other side of the
border.
Seven people from Suruwi were hired by Komang to build the boat which took them three months to
complete. 
Indonesian consul general in Vanimo, East Sepik Governor Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Wewak MP and Correctional Service Minister Jim Simatab are among the guests.
 who have been invited by Komang to officiate at the vessel’s launching. It will be launched by Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Richard Maru on Oct 4.