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Soltai to Expand Production
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Tri Marine Increases Production from Solomons Islands Tuna Plant
Noro, Solomon Islands – Solomon Islands canned tuna will once
again be available in Europe after the signing of a memorandum of
understanding by Soltai Fishing & Processing Company and Tri
Marine International, at Noro on Wednesday last week. Tri Marine
is a major supplier of tuna and processed tuna products to Europe
and is steadily increasing its supply to that market.
Under the terms of the MOU, Tri Marine will supply Soltai with
the necessary equipment to process tuna into catering sized cans
for the European market. The MOU also provides for an increase in
the production of tuna loins for the European market. Under a current
agreement, Soltai has been producing loins for the European market
since 2004.
The reintroduction of canned tuna products for Europe and the increase
in loin production will see Soltai initially increasing its processing
significantly in 2006, with further increases in production as logistical
constraints are overcome. Most of the raw material for processing
into loins and cans will be supplied by NFD.
 After
signing the MOU on behalf of Soltai, the company’s Managing
Director Milton Sibisopere thanked Tri Marine for demonstrating confidence
in Soltai by supplying the necessary equipment under arrangement,
and looked forward to working closely with Tri Marine to ensure the
project was successful. In signing and responding for Tri Marine
the
Company’s senior executive for Processed Products, Rick Heroux
thanked Soltai and expressed his confidence in Soltai’s technical
team who will be largely responsible for implementing the project.
Mr. Heroux and Mr. Sibisopere agreed that the European Union will
be the most important export market for Soltai. It is vital that
the Solomon Island Government do everything possible to establish
an EU recognized Competent Sanitary Authority without further delay.
Without such Competent Authority, Soltai production will be denied
access to the valuable EU market. An EU funded team is presently
in Solomons working on this matter.
When the increased loining and canning production commences in the
second half of 2006, the Soltai workforce is expected to increase
by some two hundred employees, mostly females.
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Background on Tri Marine
Tri Marine is a tuna supply company with focus on supply of tuna
and tuna products to the leading brands of tuna. It has offices
in 14 countries and processing activities in plants located strategically
around the world. Its tuna purse seiners operate in the Western
Pacific and the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Tri Marine was formed in
Singapore in 1972. Since then the company has grown to be one of
the largest tuna supply companies in the world. Tri Marine is privately
owned.
Contact
Joe Hamby
jhamby@TriMarinegroup.com
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