Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala today officially opened Nishi Trading’s new Pack House, an international standard food processing and manufacturing facility at ‘Utulau in Tongatapu. The Crown Prince also opened a training facility for farmers on the site.

The Nishi family owned farm and agriculture business, which has been operating for more than 20-years, partnered with the European Union (EU) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in this project.

The facility is worth $1 million pa'anga. The EU partly funded the construction with TOP$250,000 through its Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade project (IACT) with the remaining 75-percent of funds provided by Nishi through a long-term loan from the ANZ Bank

The SPC provided techical support and training during the course of completing its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) approval for international recognition of quality market-ready exported products.

Quality export

Renato Mele the First Counsellor-Head of Cooperation of the European Union for the Pacific said the facility was the result of an excellent partnership between Nishi and EU funded IACT. He said over the years the company has built a solid reputation as a renowned exporter of locally grown squash, watermelons and butternuts to international markets.

"The new facility is expected to significantly increase export volumes to help meet the growing market demand for Nishi produce, while enabling pre-prepared processing that will help add value to these products. Finished produce will be dispatched to local markets and retailers but primarily to overseas markets."

He said the local company's expansion also meant that farmers could be contracted to grow produce for the company, which was welcome news for farmers and the agricultural sector in Tonga.

"Nishi Trading facility promises to become a service centre for the revival of fresh local produce proceeds under the HACCP certified and Quality Management systems ensuring a better and safety quality standards," he said.

Private sector

Lord Vaea, the Minister of Internal Affairs said in 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries opened its new quarantine offices in Vava’u and Tongatapu and within two-years a private enterprise had managed to install, negotiate and construct a similar shed to the government blueprint.

“A new dimension has surfaced in the primary industry today. A new packing shed has been build especially to cater for a vision that Tonga has dreamed of, but has found difficult to negotiate. This packing shed has all the facilities and qualities of a New Zealand or Australian packing shed, including a landing bay, shed delivery room, classroom facilities, checking facility and a pre-departure quality quarantine for overseas requirement.”

He said local produce such as manioke (cassava), taro, yams and breadfruit will be processed here for export. Nishi Trading provides essential services to our economy.”

Minoru Nishi Jr the Manging Director said it was an opportunity to do something different, to excel in agriculture to a standard never seen before in Tonga.

“We need the support of government and all stakeholders along the supply chain to ensure our produce is looked after from the fields of our small farmers to the plates of our customers. We cannot do it alone, we must work together to turn this opportunity to a successful reality in improving the economic development for our people.”

He thanked their major sponsors the EU, SPC, partners, staff, family and friends for their support.

The company was founded by Minoru Nishi Sr.