Oil palm giant, New Britain Palm Oil, recently branded its 50th Anniversary logo on an Air Niugini F70 aircraft to mark its birthday.
The firm has been serving Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands since 1967, contributing over K1.5 billion to the national purse.
Speaking during the ceremony, NBPOL general manager Harry Brock pointed out that Hoskins Airport, and specifically Air Niugini, has played an immense role in the company’s history. Not only has it made it possible for staff to travel but also by transporting the world renowned ‘dami seeds’ to other parts of the country and the world, setting a record quantity of 195 million seeds exited via Hoskins since 1975.
“This has commenced a long an awarding partnership between NBPOL and Air Niugini and we are privileged to have our logo on this national flag carrier, an idol for the nation,” he said.
Country manager Robert Nilkare also stressed the beauty of unity in diversity, merged by the introduction of the oil palm industry.
He said the company has made a huge and extremely important contribution to rural development through public/private partnership and the contribution to community service through its Tax Credit Scheme since its introduction in 2001.
Providing employment for over 23,000 people in West New Britain, Milne Bay, Ramu Valley, Oro, New Ireland and in the Solomon Islands, this industry remains the largest employer in the agriculture sector.
The aircraft branding was graced with prominent figures in the likes of board directors Sir Brown Bai, Ernie Gangloff, Jamie Graham from Sime Darby and Walindi Reef Resort owners, Max and Cecile Benjamin, who are some of the pioneers of Kimbe town.
The aircraft is the same F70 that was named after Hoskins and branded with the 7th Grassroots PNG Games logo to officiate its role as the games’ official carrier.