Credit: R D Tuna
Feature
Madang Harbour, home to R D Tuna Canners
R D Tuna: a pioneer in PNG’s fisheries industry Starting from scratch in 1997, R D Tuna Canners has lead the way towards value-adding in PNG’s fisheries sector, turning a greenfield site in Madang into one of the region’s major sources of canned tuna.
‘I
think the fishing industry has always been underrated, especially in terms of the contribution to the economy and its potential,’ said R D Tuna Managing Director Pete Celso in his address the 2013 PNG Advantage international investment summit. Celso was talking about the creation of PNG’s first and only integrated tuna fishing and canning operation, which the Philippines-owned company started in Madang on PNG’s northern coast almost 20 years ago, along with its sister company, R D Fishing. Now employing 3,500 people and with an annual turnover of K271 million (US$106 million), the venture represents a huge success story for PNG. Celso estimates that RD Tuna has boosted the economy by roughly K600 million, while working at some point with 90% of local businesses.
Costs benefits Operating from Madang provides vital geographical and cost benefits to R D Tuna. Most importantly, it provides easy access to PNG’s fishing grounds, which are just a half-day’s sail away, thereby lowering fuel and transportation costs and ensuring maximum freshness in the fish. Madang is also sufficiently populous to provide an affordable workforce. However, there were also obstacles to overcome, such as inadequate and inconsistent infrastructure, which has affected the cost of doing business. To address the issue of inconsistency, R D Tuna invested in its own comprehensive infrastructure, based around a cannery complex capable of processing up to 200 metric tonnes of fish per day. The complex is served by its own steam plant, waste water treatment plant, ice-making facilities, cold storage facilities,
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