National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has been embarking on supporting SME’s in the coastal fisheries provinces with its objective of empowering locals through community based projects such as building jetties and proper fish markets.
The ground-breaking ceremony in Kimbe on Friday 20 September 2019 for the Artisanal Fisheries Jetty and Shore Base Facilities was an example of such community impact projects that NFA has been embarking on.
An initiative of the NFA with the support from West New Britain Provincial Government, The jetty in Kimbe is designed for small boats and canoes as a central location for West New Britain fishing. The shore facility will have fish cleaning stations and cold storage for local catch with fuel and ice available.
The NFA is determined to deliver community based projects that will have positive impact on the livelihood of people in the coastal areas and with the new government’s initiative of taking-back PNG, it stands ready to support that and is looking at supporting other jetty facilities and various infrastructure proposed by provinces and districts in the years ahead.
Managing Director of NFA, Mr. John Kasu extended his gratitude to the WNB provincial Government for partnering with NFA to build a jetty and a proper fish market for the province that will benefit the people.
NFA is also looking at building SME hubs in the coastal fishing areas of PNG and WNB could become one of them with the potential it has. Speaking on behalf of NFA, Mr Bolton Towok said such projects like that would pave way for direct exports overseas and it is a great opportunity for the community through SMEs.
He said that NFA will soon sign a bilateral agreement with China to export seafood directly to that market, and further added that such an initiative is a way forward that will have direct benefit to the people and the government.
