Rudy sells sago to earn a living

BY JOACHIM LOLOK – UPNG Journalism Student
EAST Sepik man Rudy Wunmaur is expanding his sago business in the New Guinea Island region.
Rudy, 42, is originally from Amaki village in the Ambunti-Drekikier district of East Sepik.
He travelled to Lihir Island in 2007 with no money in his pocket. His elder brother had assured him that he would send him money later.
Tired of waiting after two years with no assistance forthcoming from his brother, Rudy started selling small items on the street.
He sold minor store goods to make ends meet at his table on the street of Lihir.

In 2013, big retail shops in Lihir which trusted him started supplying him with goods to sell.
Although he was making good money from street vending, it was tough work because of the stiff competition. There were just too many people doing the same thing.
So he switched to something different – selling sago.
He started selling sago in earnest from early last year. He became the main agent for sago on the island.
Today, the father-of-four employs six people to help him run the business.
He is currently in East New Britain setting up a branch there for his sago business.
Rudy is happy with how things are working out. No one else wants to be involved in the marketing of sago. He has a monopoly in the market. Zero competition.
The bottom line is that he is making more money than before. He can easily net more than K300 on weekends.
He receives 150 bags every month from Kavieng which he sells at the Kokopo market.
Rudy has even bought two blocks of land in East New Britain for his business. He plans to set up branches at all New Guinea Islands centers.
The small business is not only generating income for him and his family but is also providing him the opportunity to travel around the country.
He has also helped pay fees for relatives who need help.
He likes what he is doing – although in a home away from his East Sepik home.