THE country’s tuna industry this month celebrated its fifth decade (50years) of operation in the country.
A celebration was held a week ago. The National Government through the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Nestor Ghiro delivered a befitting congratulatory message to the SolTuna and the NFD during celebrations.
The 50th Anniversary celebration was held in Noro.
It also coincided with the 18th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) in Honiara.
A high-level delegation of PNA Ministers and officials joined the celebrations in Noro and were given an opportunity to visit the SolTuna processing facility as part of their visit.
Both Soltuna and NFD have contributed immensely to the economic development and growth of Solomon Islands.
And it has been a long journey for both companies.
The country’s tuna fisheries sector is one of the highest employment provider and greatest contributor to the government coffers – employing more than 3,000 people and paying more than SB$300-million to towards Government revenue annually, it was revealed.
The spin-offs from the industry have transformed the livelihood of residents in that region in terms of employment and infrastructure development.
The country’s tuna industry was operated under a joint venture agreement between Solomon Islands Government and Taiyo Gyogya, a Japanese company, in 1972 and had a small pole line fleet with a small cannery and Arabushi plant in Tulagi, Central Province.
Later in 1975, the Noro-base was opened solely as a fishing base with wharves, brine tanks and cold store.
Since then, the industry grew immensely.
Today, SolTuna employs over 2000 people. NFD also employs several more locals.
The presence of tuna in the Western Province brings significant benefits to the country’s economy, the host province, the communities of Noro and the surrounding islands.
Because of tuna, Noro was established and became one of the fastest growing urban centres in the country.
It continues to offer more services to its residents and people from the surrounding communities. If there is no tuna industry, there would not be a centre like Noro.
It has been a remarkable journey for our tuna industry and therefore, let us congratulate Soltuna and NFD for their significant achievements.
Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has just returned from Korea.
He had invited the Korean government to consider investing in the tuna industry here.
Upon his return, he told the local media that Solomon Islands still has a space for one more tuna-processing company.
Korea has been a strong supporter of fisheries and also supports the fisheries institute at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU).
Fisheries, especially the tuna industry, is an important sector that will continue to support the country’s economy and provide jobs for locals.
Therefore, it is important for the government to support the industry as well as look for good foreign investors to invest in the industry.
With the Suafa Tuna Processing Facility in the pipeline, it would be great to see one tuna-processing centre in Temotu Province in the future.
This would support our people there with employment and other benefits just like Noro is enjoying.
A massive congratulation to the tuna industry!
