Pacific Magazine > Magazine > September 1, 2006

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20 Years Ago In Pacific Magazine

Sept/Oct 2006

Kiribati is sending a four man team abroad to look for prospects to buy Kiribati solar salt. The team, which is led by Secretary for the Line Islands, where the salt is produced, will call at Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa, Guam and Honolulu.

The Christmas Island Solar Salt project is currently producing 500 tons a year. But this output can be trebled if buyers are found.

In fact, this could be done immediately but Kiribati does not want to waste its resources. The salt made from ponds on Christmas Island (Kiribati) is being bought locally by the State Fishing Company, Te Mautari Limited. It is hoped that fishing
canneries from neighboring countries may buy this product.

The other three in the team include an officer from the Ministry of Natural Resources, a salt advisor from UNIDO and a representative from the New Zealand Government, which is funding this trip.

New Zealand and the U.S. have been involved in the Salt Project on Christmas Island.  

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Another indication of Majuro’s rising development scene is the newly opened milk factory being operated by the Danish 3DC company. The three-wing plant opened on the old runway in Delap, next to Gibson’s Majuro Shopping Center. Many of Majuro’s retail stores have begun carrying the Pacific Maid whole and chocolate milk, and will soon be stocking the four flavors of ice cream that the Danish plant will produce.

The plant is a Marshalls government-owned project, run by the Danish company, which is importing milk solids and butterfat to recombine with Majuro water.

The factory cost about US$1.5 million to construct, and is currently training five Marshallese in plant operations.