SP Brewery gives K150,000 to Mask Festival committee

SOUTH Pacific (SP) Brewery under its South Pacific Export Lager brand has given K150,000 to the National Mask Festival committee to host the 2019 festival in Kokopo.
SP Brewery’s commercial manager Moses Williams said the company was happy to partner with the committee that would be organising the festival.
“SP Brewery is pleased to extend through our brand the South Pacific Export Lager, to be associated with the National Mask Festival,” he said.
“We believe that it is an iconic and significant cultural event to showcase the culture of this country and to really look at what is best of this country.
“The best of this country for us is the culture and the essence of the country and the strength of the people.”
Williams said SP Brewery was committed to the partnership and a longer term partnership.
A two-year sponsorship agreement was also signed between the festival committee and the company, with a possible extension later.
Festival chairman Isaac Ilom thanked SP Brewery and its lager brand – sponsors of the event since last year.
“The occasion today is a milestone for the people of Kokopo, with the cheque and the signing of the agreement,” he said.
“This year we are putting on more activities with 189 groups that will be performing. From the funds we have received, 40 to 50 per cent will go to all the participating groups.”
Ilom said the number of tourists had increased in East New Britain through the festival each year.
Festival vice-chairman Tolam Wawaja said: “Preparations for the festival began last year, the event will be held from July 10 to 12.”