A group of ordinary farmers in East New Britain have achieved something many thought only big foreign-owned companies could do: export their own balsa overseas.

On Wednesday, October 29th, at Ulaveo in Bitapaka LLG, Kokopo Commodity launched its first 40-foot container of processed balsa wood.

The shipment will go straight to Bulgaria early this month, November.

Kokopo Commodity is led by director and farmer Mark Taura.

The company works in a 50-50 partnership with local growers meaning half of the export earnings go back to the farmers.

Balsa growers from Kokopo, Rabaul and Namatanai in New Ireland Province attended the event on Wednesday.

Two farmer representatives from New Ireland, Warren Lamus and Steven Lokai also expressed interest in joining, saying many growers there want to be part of the initiative.

The person in charge of the Operations, George Tabakua said the journey to this milestone has not been easy.

Last year, farmers prepared one and a half containers of balsa only for criminals to burn all their hard work.

“We lost everything,” Tabakua recalled. “But we didn’t give up. This year we worked again and we now have a full container.”

He explained that world market prices sit at around US$750 per cubic metre, and the shipment contains 60 cubic metres.

“This first export will give us the boost we need,” he said.

Taura, proudly, told the Post Courier that the achievement is not just about business it is also about proving Papua New Guineans can compete globally.

“Today we show our province and our country that what foreigners are doing in exporting balsa, we locals can also do.”

Taura said PNG often allows outsiders to dominate export industries, including in East New Britain, while local farmers doubt themselves.

“Our Highlands people export coffee already. Here in New Guinea Islands, we are not doing it, but we can,” he said.

“I already have a market in Germany, but I need more equipment and support to meet the demand.”

He urged leaders and agencies to back local efforts so foreign currency can flow into PNG through home-grown businesses.

According to Taura, Kokopo Commodity’s partnership model is simple equal benefit sharing.

“It’s about empowering our local farmers,” he said. “Half of what we receive goes to the growers. We want to uplift our people, not use them.”

The humble factory at Ulaveo may not look like much now, but for the farmers who stood and clapped yesterday, it represents hope and a future where their sweat finally pays off on the world stage.

“We local farmers can export too. We just need to try,” Taura said.