Source: The National, Tuesday, February 12, 2013
PAPUA New Guinean Uron Salum has been appointed as executive director of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), a regional inter-government organisation based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
His appointment is for three years beginning this year.
Salum was appointed at the 49th session of the APCC held in Fiji last month and was the PNG government’s nomination on behalf of Pacific island member countries.
He was one of two candidates for the position.
Salum, 53, from Karkar Island in Madang, has long and extensive experience in the coconut industry.
He holds a bachelors degree in accountancy from University of Technology in Lae.
Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says the coconut industry in PNG makes a smaller contribution than other major cash crops such as oil palm and coffee.
However, Maru said that coconut still has a strong influence through direct employment, export earning, gross domestic product contribution and food production.
He said PNG produced 146,526 tonnes of copra in 2011 and only 70, 366 tonnes last year due to low prices.
Maru said copra exports in 2011 were only 44% of average and last year only 32% of average.