Western to open agro centre

A NEW agriculture centre will be opened in Western.
The ground breaking ceremony for the Kiunga Agro-Industrial Centre (AIC) took place last Thursday.
WestAgro Holdings and Fly Vanilla chairman Ian Middleton said it was an historic moment.
“This is the beginning of changing the face of the province. The mine will shut down one day but agriculture will always be around,” he said.
“Agri-business is the best way to alleviate poverty, the best way for rural Papua New Guineans to ensure they have a future.”
Development partners and stakeholders committed more than K15 million with the Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (K6 million), North Fly development authority (K1.15 million), Fly River Provincial Government (not disclosed), Innovative Agro Industries (K8 million), Mineral Resources Development Company Ltd (not disclosed).
Middleton said the project would cost K42 million over three years.
“The ground breaking ceremony kicks off everything,” he said.
“Civil works are to start in December and were expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
“By the end of the first quarter of 2021, all the internationally procured materials will arrive.
“A team will then move in and construction will be in full swing.
“We should start production one year after that, and open the AIC in mid-2022.”