Concern Over Thai Canned Tuna Imports In Solomon Islandsff

The Solomon Islands foreign minister, Patteson Oti has expressed concern that a Thai company, which cans tuna it imports from his country, is undercutting the locally manufactured product.

He says it is worrying that the Thai company imports frozen tuna from Solomon Islands, cans it and then exports canned tuna back to Solomon Islands.

Mr. Oti says fishing companies that export frozen tuna to Thailand should revisit whatever arrangements they have with the Thai company because they are hurting Soltai Fishing & Fishing Processing Limited, a company owned by the Western Provincial government and central government.

He was speaking at the launch of the Melanesian regional trade and business directory for 2007 in Honiara.