Maru receives Fiji’s letter

By GYNNIE KERO
TRADE, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru has confirmed receiving a letter from the Fiji Government on the lifting of the ban on Ox and Palm corned beef, Trukai rice and Lae biscuits.
Maru told Parliament on Thursday that the three products, banned by Fiji for biosecurity reasons, would now enter the Fiji market.
He received the letter on Thursday morning dated March 23 confirming that Fiji had lifted the ban on PNG imports such as Ox and Palm, rice and biscuits.
“It’s been a long battle and Fiji has come good.
“On behalf of Papua New Guinea I thank the Government of Fiji for finally doing the right thing after 15 years,” he said.
“Now that we have the pathway for our three products open, we need to export more of our products (such as) canned tuna, fresh fish, grounded coffee and other products sold globally.
“I will be working with Minister for Fisheries (Mao Zeming) and the National Fisheries Authority on that.
“This year we expect Fiji to export K100 million worth of their products into the Papua New Guinea market.
“We have been doing less than K5 million a year.
“So the trade imbalance is absolutely in favour of Fiji.
“It is important that we work with Fiji government to increase exports into Fiji.
“When you look at industries like fishing, if it wasn’t for the European Union market, we would be struggling.
“It’s important to target markets like Australia, Fiji which are closer to Papua New Guinea.”