SICCI promotes honey in New Zealand

Through the partnership between the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Trade New Zealand, SICCI has promoted Solomon Islands honey in the New Zealand Market.

Revealing this good news during a media session organised by SICCI for journalists recently, is Export Industry Development Officer of SICCI Mr John Paul Alasi.

In his presentation Mr Alasi says, in the past years Solomon Honey has never been entered New Zealand and Australian markets due to certification and food safety regulations.

It wasn’t until this year that the barrier was removed during SICCI’s trip with some companies in the Solomon Islands to New Zealand.

He says currently the Taiwanese farm and the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock are putting resources together to support farmers in the country as the capacity to meet export demands remain an issue.

“During those certification and food safety regulations, honey was not able to go into New Zealand and Australian markets. But we managed to bring Solomon honey into the New Zealand market so the capacity to meet the demand for export is what we have an issue with.

“At the moment Taiwanese farm and Ministry of Agriculture and SISPEC through this trip are putting together resources to support the country’s honey farmers.”

Mr Alasi adds, a similar trip in 2007 also enabled them to open up markets to other Solomon Products in New Zealand.

“Regarding our partnership with Pacific Trade New Zealand , this year we went over to New Zealand with few companies. In 2007 we went over and came back then DBSI secured few markets in New Zealand which is a positive thing.”

By: Allen Waitara