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| 6/5/08 - Wairiki port declared an international port of entry |
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Cabinet has declared the Wairiki Port as an international port of entry.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Joketani Cokanasiga.
Mr Cokanasiga explained that the Wairiki port construction was completed in June 2007 with a total cost of $24,975,000.00.
“However, installation of port of entry requirements to enable the port to comply with the recently enforced International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) are to be carried out by the port operator.”
He said that upon completion, the Wairiki port facility will be a major Government capital investment in the forest sector to boost economic development in Vanua Levu.
“The port is to facilitate the direct exportation of pine chips from Wairiki in Bua to its market overseas, mainly Japan.”
He said that the port enables the processing of Fiji Pine plantations (16,000 hectares) in Macuata and Bua including private and communally-owned plantations.
“The test runs of the chipping operation began in February 2008 and it is anticipated that Tropic Wood Industries Limited will be able to stock pile over 38,000 tonnes of pine chips for the first shipment by late April, 2008.”
The Minister said that the export earning is estimated at $15 million annually from the initial annual harvest of 200,000 tonnes of pine logs (60% chip logs and 40% sawlogs), and this volume should increase to 250,000 tonnes annually when it is in full operation.
-ENDS-
No:0660
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