The Government is being called upon to keep the Soltai fishing and processing company in Solomon Islands hands.
Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio urged this and told Radio New Zealand International: “Western Province is the only province in the Solomons which normally pumps millions of dollars to the national government in export and import, and other taxes so I think they will listen to us. Now that the tsunami has struck the Western Province, even the national government is trying to help us to recover.â€
A Filipino company, RD Tuna Canners, is said to be interested in Soltai.
Soltai, at Noro, is 51% owned by the national government and 49% by Western Province. Mr. Lokopio said Soltai provides employment for about 1300 people.
RD Tuna Canners is part of the family-controlled RD Group of Companies.
This is engaged in fishing, agri-business, manufacturing, processing, banking, pawning, insurance, real estate development, hotels and hardware and fishing supplies.
The company already operates a cannery in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
RD Tuna in Madang produces the Diana brand for the PNG market and also exports to the Solomons, Fiji, and Vanuatu.