Muthuvel sees more business opportunities in WNB

WEST New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel says that although the province has a strong oil palm industry, it can also diversify into other cash crops.
Those crops include cocoa, copra, rice, coffee, vanilla, fruits, local food and rubber.
Muthuvel’s comments came when he spoke at a world Tamils’ economic conference in Pondicherry, India.
“West New Britain is the leading agricultural province in PNG,” he said.
“We are host … two giant oil palm companies – New Britain Palm Oil and Hargy Oil Palms.
“There is potential in livestock production and stock feed for poultry, cattle, piggery and our abundant fishery resources.
“We are next door to the breeding ground of world’s tuna stock, which has attracted several fishing companies to establish in PNG.
“The potential for direct export of fresh tuna to markets in Japan is there.
“With new international flights by the national flag carrier Air Niugini to several Southeast Asian countries, there are opportunities for fresh tuna exports to be explored in this sector.
“There is potential for mining and exploration, hydro power and geothermal and the downstream processing of copra and timber has huge potential.
“We invite others who are interested to come and explore the vast opportunities we have and join our family in West New Britain and a greater Papua New Guinea.”
Muthuvel told the conference that Papua New Guinea enjoyed a sustained and strong economic growth in the past 10 years – something never experienced before.