CPL welcomes Government’s initiative to ship fresh produce

City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) says the Government’s initiative to ship fresh produce and vegetables from Lae to Port Moresby will bring prices down and increase consumption.
Managing director Mahesh Patel said this was a great initiative and would allow local farmers to grow their businesses.
The CPL Group has a partnership with farmers from Highlands and Central who supply fresh produce and vegetables to the company every week by road, air and sea.
National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil said on Monday that more than a thousand containers loaded with food would be shipped from Lae to Port Moresby and around the country.
He said that all documentation had been completed and the first shipment of food would be announced soon.
Basil also noted that trucking companies would be used in the exercise to help transport food from the Highlands and Mamose to Lae for shipment.
Meanwhile, shipping company Bismark Maritime Ltd stated that all fresh produce and vegetables brought to its Lae port facility would be shipped to Port Moresby free of freight charges.
It said that this freight-free service for shipment followed the signing of a service level agreement between the Government and the company.
It stated that the engagement of Bismark Maritime was an emergency arrangement as directed by the State of Emergency Controller David Manning aimed at revitalising and maintaining the continuous supply of fresh produce and vegetables from the easily accessible Lae port, from the Highlands, Madang and Morobe to the National Capital District.
“This freight subsidy with potential impact on 10 provinces, is immediately available and will continue for up to six months,” Bismark Maritime said.
“Under this service level agreement, all fresh produce and vegetable shipments will be carried from the port of loading being Lae, to the port of discharge being Port Moresby without any freight cost to the person and/or entity who are shipping the fresh produce and vegetables.
“We encourage farmers to make use of this freight subsidy scheme by delivering your fresh produce and vegetables to Bismark Maritime Ltd port facility in Lae.”