PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) — The Papua New Guinea government has been urged to reduce the current duty on smoked tuna being imported by Japan.
A Japanese marketing researcher said with the present 7 percent import duty imposed on imported PNG smoke tuna, it won’t be able to compete against its counterpart from Solomon Island which enters Japan duty-free.
This was an issue for consideration raised by Pacific Islands Center senior marketing researcher Yoshiko Miyazaki who was part of a Japanese delegation on a fact-finding mission targeting agriculture and fisheries industries in the country.
Miyazaki referred to feasibility studies conducted by Japanese businessman Hiroyasu Kawaguchi who said at present smoked skipjack tuna import from PNG was slapped with 7 percent import duty, while those from Solomon Islands enter the Japanese market duty-free. Thus, PNG is clearly in a less-competitive position against Solomon Islands.
Another issue for consideration was the high freight cost currently experienced by PNG companies and exporters for its products.
Miyazaki said this is a major impediment that should be addressed at the national level to promote PNG exports.
Through the study, she also noted the limited catching capacity of the local fishing groups due to non-availability of markets, storage facilities and boat sizes which determines their current capacities.
“The study indicates PNG has the potential to establish a processing facility for smoked tuna … thus PIC is positive that this prospect can be realized with the support and joint efforts of the PNG government, through the Investment Promotion Authority, the National Fisheries Authority and the respective local stakeholders in PNG,” Miyazaki said.