Source: Solomon Star
Philippine-based fishing giant Frebelle Fishing Corporation (FFC) says it is serious about setting up a tuna loining factory in the country.
The company also said it will soon set up its office in Honiara.
A proposal of their intended $80 million investment has been submitted to the Government early this month.
Frabelle based in Navatas City, Manila, has a fleet of tuna Purse Seine vessels and support vessels operating in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Islands nations.
There are tuna canning facilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia.
Both canneries are operating at a capacity and produces quality canned tuna which are sold world wide, the company said.
Frabelle is a recognised company in the world tuna fishing and processing industries.
Their existing operations in the Philippines, PNG, and Indonesia are successful and profitable.
They can market more canned tuna and other sea food products than they can currently produce.
The PNG operation is under the management of Frebelle (PNG) Ltd, a company registered and incorporated in PNG. They also operate a number of PNG flagged vessels.
With its 25 years of experience in the pacific region, Frebelle said it is ready to deploy a team of highly experienced managers and supervisors to Solomon Islands to build and manage the facility and to train local counterparts.
“We have identified Solomon Islands as an attractive area to establish another integrated tuna fishing, loining and canning facilities. This will complement our existing operations in the Pacific,†the company said in its proposal.
Their canning and fishing operations are tailored for developing countries and will generate employment and related allied industries.
“Our methods are simple, labour intensive, environmental friendly and our company policies are geared towards responsible and sustainable fishing. Solomon Islands offer a large pool of willing workers, abundant renewable fish resources and a progressive attitude toward foreign investment."
“Utilising the fishing methodology pioneered by the Filipinos will guarantee a steady supply of fish to the cannery, as well as steady work for the people, and export revenue for the country,†the proposal stated.
The company will use Purse Seine fishing vessels and pole and line as fishing methods and will allow more Solomon Islanders to work as crew.
“This method involves the mix use of smaller less complicated vessels and large boats with a number of support vessels thus offering the opportunity for more employment.
“We estimate approximately 30% of the vessel crews can soon be Solomon Islanders and even more later,†the company said.
The company is looking at establishing its factory in two places.
“We have identified Guadalcanal and/or Western province as the two possible ideal locations for our projects.
“This is because of the closeness to the fishing grounds, Solomon Islands becoming a major tuna trans-shipment point, adequate labour supply and existing infrastructure and being close to Lae, PNG where we have a tuna loining-canning factory and can making facilities,†the proposal said.
However, the company said they are still to consider other environmental concerns which Frabelle adheres to such as Earth Island Institute Dolphin Safe program.
Associate Director of Earth Islands Institute Mark Berman who is currently in the country said this is good news for the nation.
However he warned that dolphin trade must first stop before actual operations are to start.
Frebelle products carry eco-friendly labels and comply with the standard of market certification organisations including the Earth Islands and Friends of the Sea (FOS).
Frebelle’s proposal is to put up tuna loining factory with a canning line in the Solomon Islands.
“The processed tuna products will be marketed to our customers worldwide,†the company said.
“We also hope to introduce a new local brand in the Pacific market from our Solomon Islands plant.
“Our customer, contacts, shipping and distribution and collection network are already established and products are readily accepted in the international markets,†the company said.
The loining/canning/fishing operations are expected to generate employment of about 1000 people from the onset.
“As the force becomes more experienced, a second shift will bring total employment up to about 1500 people.
“Production is expected to start at 50 tons per day and increase to 100 tons per day,†the company said.
The proposed facility in Solomon Islands will be complementing their present facility in Lae, PNG, to boost pacific islands trade.
“Our project will require considerable quantities or raw material which we plan to source from local suppliers provided we do not compete against the local demand.
“For fish supply we will work with local fishermen and we will provide support facilities to enhance their fishing capability; we are committed to help develop the local fishing industry including and specially the pole and line in the Islands,†the company said.
Mr. Berman who met with the company owner in late June said the company is serious to move into Solomon Islands.
Mr. Berman said they have no problem with that move to start setting up their office to slowly build up the company.
He said that in the coming weeks and months, officials from the company will arrive to start ground work.
Mr. Berman said the only setback would be the dolphin trade.
“But if and when the trade is over the business can start to operate but for now the ground work will start soon so that when the new government comes in the issue of dolphin can be dealt with separately,†he said.
Mr. Berman acknowledged that the investment benefit would be enormous because it would earn the country revenue, provide employment and will be sustainable for a longer period.