Company helps preserve culture through sponsorship

PROMOTING efforts to preserve and foster Papua New Guinea culture are activities worth supporting, a company official says.
Trukai Industries Ltd chief executive officer Alan Preston said this when announcing a sponsorship of K60,000 for Port Moresby’s annual Hiri Moale Festival’s Vanagi Heau Helulu (canoe race).
This year, the rice company will be the naming rights sponsor of the one-day canoe race event.
The three-year agreement was signed between the Hiri Moale Festival committee and Trukai.
The money will go towards prizes and preparations for the race.
Preston said the company fostered and promoted cultural preservation.
“Trukai is inspired by communities that work to preserve their cultural practices and traditions in such modern and diverse times,” he said. “This sponsorship continues to signify Trukai’s rich history embedded in PNG’s culture.
“Also in these special times, we must be aware of the current pandemic and celebrate in a safe manner by following the ‘Niupela Pasin’.”
About 80 canoes will be participating in this year’s race.
Motu Koita Assembly chairman Dadi Toka said: “We are very excited to announce that the winner of the A-grade Vanagi division will take home K10,000,” he said.
“The prize money for the other winners is quite substantial and we thank Trukai Industries for their support,” he said.
The Vanagi race is part of the three-day Hiri Moale Festival which will take place on Nov 20.