To put agriculture and fisheries into aviation, the Morobe Provincial Government (MPG) has collaborated with the National Airports Corporation.
The Morobe Provincial Government has been preparing for four years. In Port Moresby, the Morobe team headed by Governor Ginson Saonu signed the Agriculture and Fisheries Partnership via Aviation with NAC acting managing director Rex Kiponge and his team.
Governor Saonu said that this is a significant initiative by MPG and that he will assist in its promotion because it will serve his people all the way down to the rural stage.
Mr Kiponge stated that NAC welcomes the collaboration with MPG to grow the Nadzab Airport into a hub for local farmers, fishermen, and small- and medium-sized businesses to carry their produce and catch to be exported.
Agriculture and Fisheries through Aviation is an MPG project to make Nadzab Airport a centre for local farmers, fishermen, and SMEs to sell their produce to other parts of the world and even foreign markets, allowing cash flow and bringing revenue back into the country.
Elizabeth Bradshaw, managing director of Morobe Resources Holdings Limited, said the team has spent over four years researching, organizing, and raising support for the project in the province, and has ticked both the pros and cons.
“This is an initiative of the Morobe Provincial Government to create an Air Cargo Hub of the Pacific at the Nadzab Airport not only for Morobe Province but for PNG.
“We have planned this for years and we are aggressive to see this become a reality.
“We have secured a partnership with some international parties who are ready to support us and we will meet with the Agriculture and Fisheries department this week to present our initiative,” she said.
According to Bradshaw, securing their relationship with NAC is the most crucial move in the process because NAC is in charge of all airports in the region, and the partnership is just the beginning of what's to come because this effort will help both MPG and NAC.
