PNG Diwai Holdings Ltd (PNGDHL), the business arm of the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) signed a Harvesting Operator Agreement with the Kondopina Co-operative Society Limited for partnership work to be undertaken as part of the Kondopina Forest Harvesting Project in the Whagi Forest Plantations in Dei District of Western Highlands Province.
Through this agreement, PNGFA is implementing the Government’s Downstream Processing policy in the Forestry Sector where the local contractor Kondopina Co-operative Society Limited, will harvest round logs in the Kondopina plantation compartment area managed by the Mount Hagen Forestry Office. The local contractor will also plant trees and carry out community awareness on Forestry initiatives.
PNGFA on the other hand will provide technical support to the project through the Mount Hagen Forestry Office and implemented by PNGDHL using the local contractor who will be supported by communities in the area.
Minister for Forest Hon. Salio Waipo expressed his satisfaction at seeing a national company getting involved in the harvesting of round logs, as well as reforestation and awareness saying: “To see Kondopina Co-operative Society Ltd stepping up is my pride. It’s about time Papua New Guineans take over this type of activities and ensure opportunities and benefits are given back to our own people. Papua New Guineans must go down this path.”
The Kondopina Forest Harvesting Project is supporting part of the PNGDHL project action outcomes of the PNGFA Forestry Sector site visit undertaken in 2023 to 2024, specifically, to assess the potential that the sector has in terms of the availability of forest resources in the Highlands Region that can be utilized for processing using existing PNGFA facilities and forest stock in the plantations since the 1970’s.
Kondopina Co-operative Society Ltd Chairman Mr. Balbo Yandra expressed his gratitude to Minister Waipo, MD Mosoro, staff of the PNGDHL and PNGFA, for their support in ensuring the agreement signing, and its continuity moving forward.
Mr. Mosoro thanked Minister Waipo for his leadership, putting landowners first, since he took office. The agreement signing involving a local company is testament to his leadership.
The five-year project will aim to empower local communities to increase small and medium enterprises, processing activities; and sustain livelihoods through the long-term sustainable management of the forestry plantation.
