Local dairy products will save import costs, says Abel

DEPUTY Prime Minister Charles Abel says the local dairy products from the Ilimo Farm will help reduce import costs.
Abel said Papua New Guinea spent about K400 million annually to import 14 million litres of dairy products – which required foreign exchange.
“The government is proud of this particular programme,” he said.
He thanked Innovated Agro Industry for the hard work it had done in such a short period of time “to respond to the Government’s call to generate home-grown industry in the replacement of imports”.
“We are importing something like 14 million litres of dairy products every year costing about K400 million, and we require foreign exchange to do so,” Abel said.
He said it was part of the Government’s plan to relieve some pressure on foreign exchange and “most importantly provide fresh healthy products for the people”.
“For many years we have been importing ultra-high temperate treated (UHT) milk which does not have the same taste and quality. So this is a wonderful moment,” he said.