Industry aims to produce quality goods

THE coconut industry is ready to climb new heights through downstream processing of high-value organic coconut products, says Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) chairman Kili Tambua.
Tambua said this during the opening of the inaugural Coconut Festival in Port Moresby yesterday.
He said the full potential of coconut would be realised as small to medium enterprises (SMEs) were now going into producing new products apart from copra.
He said the demand for PNG coconut on the international market was high and it was what the local coconut industry was hoping to harness.
“The commercialisation of more high value coconut products are running parallel with national government initiatives aimed at streamlining research and development to augment this focus,” Tambua said.
“Many small and medium enterprises are taking these opportunities to explore and specialise in virgin coconut oil production and use this as a base for soap production, deodorants and even launching into coconut biofuels.”
He said the prospect of the coconut industry looked promising for Papua New Guineans in the coming years with increased coconut export revenues anticipated through collaboration.
“We want to increase our average K126 million contribution to the PNG economy and increase our global market presence.
“We stand ready to partner with the government, SME’s, new investors and embrace new emerging technologies and expand participation in the coconut industry beyond 2.6 million people.”