The New Ireland Provincial Government will allocate K10 million per year for its business arm, New Ireland Development Corporation Ltd (NIDC) to boost agriculture and fisheries sector in a big way.
New Ireland Governor Walter Schnaubelt made this commitment while addressing the NIDC board of directors in Kavieng, New Ireland Province.
“I made the decision to support NIDC by giving K10 million a year to support its initiatives and programs in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“This is so that we can give the economic empowerment “Stretim Ai Dua” to our people and for us to focus on and deliver.
“I think this is the first ever such a decision has been made by any in New Ireland Provincial Government and you have no excuse once the money starts reaching the NIDC account,” Governor Schnaubelt emphasised.
He said the K10 million funding has been captured in the revised 2025 NIPG budget which was recently approved on 25th June, 2025.
The funding will empower NIDC to:
- Expand agricultural ventures across all districts;
- Support the development of cash crops such as copra, cocoa, coffee, and spices;
- Invest in logistics infrastructure, including coastal shipping;
- Enable access to domestic and international markets for marine products, crab farming, and rural produce.
Governor Schnaubelt expressed confidence in the equally capable board of directors; stating,
“We have some top brass in the agriculture sector or connection to those that are in that professional arena that can support our mission.”
“I expect good things to be derived from these connections for this board. I expect nothing less as I devote myself to support you to support programs that economically empower our local people,” Governor Schnaubelt urged.
He challenged the NIDC board directors to get to work immediately and start producing results by having NIDC paying dividends eventually to the provincial government as its primary role.
Meanwhile, NIDC has recently concluded a fact finding field visit to villages and wards in the Lovongai LLG to speak with farmers on how best they can assist in setting up economically viable buying points for agricultural and fisheries produce such as copra, cocoa, rubber, taro, mud crabs and fish.
Governor Schnaubelt thanked the new chairman Dr Deane Woruba for his stewardship and engagement of agriculture specialist Dr Eric Omuru and looks forward to receiving a decisive plan come a few weeks from now.
