The Papua New Guinea National Forestry Authority team visiting the New Hanover Project area.
MALAYSIAN-based Joinland Group is paving the way for socio-economic development at the remote island of New Hanover, New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Through its agriculture and forestry venture, the Central New Hanover Agro-forestry Project, also known as the New Hanover Project, was initiated by Joinland PNG Ltd – a PNG-based subsidiary – some eight years ago.
The designated land area of New Hanover Project covers a total of 56,592 hectares (139,842 acres) with the group committed to planting a total of five million rubber trees by 2022.
“When Joinland first came to New Hanover many years ago, we recognised the huge potential for development as the island has an abundance of natural resources.
“As an isolated island lacking major economic activities with most of its people living in poverty, we had a goal to develop this unutilised land in a sustainable manner, ” said Joinland founder Datuk Seri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu.
Hah, who founded Joinland in 1990, believes that this would open up income-earning opportunities for the community to enhance their livelihoods.
Founder Datuk Seri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu believes that this would open up income-earning opportunities for the New Hanover community to enhance their livelihoods.
Joinland collaborated with local developer Tutuman Development Ltd in January 2012, when the two joined hands to initiate the rubber tree-planting project under the Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) arrangement.
Granted by PNG’s Department of Lands and Physical Planning to facilitate the development of long-term commercial agricultural industries with a lease of customary land, whereby the landowners shall benefit from rental payments, job creation opportunities and improved facilities, among others.
Both corporations are also equipped with the licence to harvest timber with the Forest Clearing Authority from PNG’s Forestry Authority, enabling them to obtain consent from the customary landowners prior to harvesting.
“Being a New Hanover native and an advocate of land development, I am very pleased to be working with our Malaysian partner Joinland on this endeavour that can stimulate growth and bring prosperity to the people of New Hanover, ” said Tutuman chairman Pedi Anis.
“Without initial and continuing financial support from investors, no real change is ever going to be realised and achieved on customary land. A private sector initiative is a must to establish and grow economic holdings on lease and lease back customary land.”
He added that the New Hanover Project is a much-welcomed initiative as it aims to give its citizens a chance for a better life and believes that the rubber industry can be a catalyst for the economic transformation of New Hanover.
Three stages of success
The New Hanover Project comprises three main phases: clear-felling and plantation, marketing and processing of agricultural crops, and reforestation.
The first phase of the project which involved clear-felling activities is almost completed, while the planting of rubber trees is still ongoing.
Since the project first started in 2012, Joinland has planted over 2.5 million rubber trees, 560,000 cocoa trees and 54,000 coconut trees.
These crops are then harvested to be marketed and exported, ensuring that farmers and landowners reap the optimum value of these resources.
New Hanover Native Pedi Anis is confident the project will transform the economy of the island.
Additionally, rubber, cocoa and coconut seedlings are distributed to farmers under the community agricultural plots programme.
“We are proud of the progress of the project as we have delivered on our promise thus far. In fact, we have expanded to develop other commodity crops other than rubber as an extension to the New Hanover project, ” said Joinland PNG managing director Deodatus Hii.
The second stage of the project, encompassing the processing and marketing of the agricultural crops, is currently in progress.
The third phase of the project is part of the sustainability initiatives implemented involving reforestation at the cleared area.
For every one tree that is cut down, Joinland plants another 15 trees of essential species in its place, with the aim of preserving the natural ecosystem.
Over 800,000 calophyllum trees, a timber species native to PNG, have been planted for this purpose.
Bringing shared prosperity through development
“We are committed to developing the island, and are focused on implementing our vision. If we don’t plant, build and implement our programmes now, there will be no future for the people of New Hanover, ” said Hii.
The New Hanover Project has generated some RM104.2mil in revenue since the start of the project, with RM42mil paid to landowners in royalty and levies.
To further enhance the well-being of the villagers, Joinland built a total of 73 permanent houses, with another 45 houses under construction.
This also includes three church buildings, three pastors’ houses, three primary school double classroom buildings, three elementary school buildings, three aid posts as well as a community health worker’s house.
Over the next 10 years, Joinland aims to build permanent houses for all residents.
All houses built are also supplied with water tanks and so far, a total of 1,814 water tanks, equivalent to 9.07 million litres of water have been supplied to provide reliable clean water for the people – in line with a decade-long goal to equip all households with a water tank and the aim to build permanent houses for all residents.
Joinland has built a total of 73 permanent houses, with another 45 houses under construction.
Over the next 10 years, Joinland aims to build permanent houses for all residents of New Hanover.
A total of 1,814 water tanks have been supplied to provide reliable clean water for the people of New Hanover.
