BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Harry Kuma has pledged to reinforce the Commodities Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA).

This came following a report on the initial operation of body revealed that after the revitalisation of CEMA, it has gone through a mixture of things that put the body under spotlight.

CEMA operated some decades back, and came to a halt due to government’s non-prioritisation. In recent years, the programme was revitalised back into operation.

The programme came under the Ministry of Commerce (MCILI), and so far, the ministry has allocated $18 million for its operation.

Speaking in parliament this week, Minister Kuma said despite the program has gone through roller coaster, the ministry planned to reform and restrengthen it.

He admitted ill administration of the body, revealing mixture of things that landed CEMA under spotlight and stirred public criticism.

“There is a report revealed mixture of things that are not pleasing to the eyes of the public. And we are going to address them with the increase in our budgetary support to SEMA.

“We would like to strengthen those areas particularly, in terms of the corporate governance and financial management within CEMA.

“We would also like to instil a sense of good leadership in CEMA so that this amount of budget can be properly implemented and achieved,” Kuma said.

The minister said for next year, the budget allocation for CEMA is $21 million, the ministry would like to see it support farmers especially in terms of granting fair prices.

Also to promote export and expand production base of local commodity, beginning with copra and cocoa, and of course moving on to value addition as well.

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