Speech by the Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Ben Semri
On the occasion of the Opening of the Quality Assurance and Laboratory Techniques Training Program

1st April 2005

Mr. Bamake Rumbam, Chairman of the National Fisheries Board
Members of the National Fisheries Board
Dr. Subasinghe, Director of INFOFISH and your colleagues
Mr. Sylvester Pokajam, Acting Managing Director of NFA and your staff
Fishing Industry representatives
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am pleased to be here tonight to open the quality assurance and laboratory techniques training program.

Firstly, I welcome Dr Subasinghe, and your colleagues, to Papua New Guinea. I have learnt that Dr. Subasinghe is becoming a frequent visitor to Papua New Guinea. The higher level of priority given by the INFOFISH as shown by the Director’s visits seems to correlate with the growth of the fisheries sector in Papua New Guinea. We would therefore like to see more of your visits, Director.

The Fishing Industry has in fact grown in leaps and bound since 1995. It has recorded growth in exports from a mere 50 tonnes in 1990 to over 40,000 tonnes in 2001 just over a 10-year period. This represents a growth of a thousand fold and export income of over US$60 million, which is unprecedented by any measure.

The growth will continue upwards with the introduction of five (5) more canneries and loining plants. We are looking at the expansion of RD Tuna Canning capacity to 500 metric tonnes per day at Vidar, a 60mt per day Kosher Loining plant by Poisedon in Madang, a 140mt per day tuna loining and caning plant by Frabelle in Lae, a 50mt per day tuna loing plant in Kokopo by New Britain Resources Development and a 120mt per day loining and canning plant by Offshore Master Company of Thailand.

We are looking at creating 15-20,000 direct and indirect jobs for Papua New Guineans in the next 10 years and generate over US$300-400 million in export revenue for PNG.

The current economic climate facing the world economy, especially the increased levels of fuel prices have however been a strain to the growth of the fisheries sector. There are also other factors that have put additional strain on the sector which can be addressed by relevant institutions and stakeholders. These factors covers areas such as administrative processes of government, level of reinvestment by existing players, levels of communication between stakeholders, training and innovation etc.

As Minister responsible for Fisheries, I am also a member of the Economic Sector Ministers Committee which is addressing some of these impediments to the growth of the sector. Addressing the impediments that are within our reach is a key objective of the Somare Government under the Economic Recovery and Growth Strategy.

The quality assurance and laboratory techniques training program fits into this overall Government strategy. Put simply, Papua New Guinea cannot process good quality seafood products for both the domestic and export markets if we do not have people trained in specialized areas such as the type offered in this quality assurance and laboratory techniques program.

It is important that all seafood processing companies in Papua New Guinea continue to maintain their high food safety standards that are based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point or HACCP. It is also of critical importance that the National Fisheries Authority as a component authority be well aware of the latest standards and requirements that are related to food safety.

At this juncture, I want to issue a challenge to the program conductors and the participants to in one your sessions discuss and list some of the things that need to be done to ensure that PNG products fulfill the food safety requirements.

Over the next five days you will learn a lot about quality assurance and laboratory techniques in the handling and processing of seafood. I am sure that what you learn will be beneficial, to you, to your company and to Papua New Guinea.

I thank the INFOFISH, FAO and CDE for bringing this training program to Papua New Guinea and the National Fisheries Authority for co-funding and making the arrangements for this important program.

To close I wish each of the participant all the best in your training and am sure that the rest of us here tonight are assured that we will continue to enjoy good quality PNG made seafood products.

Thank you.