BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Schulte Maetoloa, owner of a successful smoked tuna business called “Gizo Smoked Tuna”, says he appreciates the government for hosting this year’s Annual National Trade Fair (ANTF).
His business aims to add value to the local yellowfin tuna catch and support rural fishermen in the Western Province.
He set up his seafood processing business in Gizo in 2023.
Participating in this year’s ANTF is an opportunity for Schulte as a provincially based businessman.
“This NTF is a nice opportunity for us, businesses and organisations to showcase products and services. I thank the government through the Ministry of Commerce for assisting us to take part in this event,” he said.
Married to a Kiribati-Solomon Islands family, Maetoloa ventured into the seafood business to utilise seafood resources, which he described as plenty in the western province.
“I decided to go into the seafood business after I noticed that there are a lot of sea resources in the western province. There are plenty. I see how their fishermen catch big tuna, good price. So, from there, I said to myself that it would be better to do downstream processing. That was the idea to come up with the business,” he said.
At the NTF, the Gizo Smoked Tuna is promoting smoked tuna as well as smoked reef fish.
Maetoloa, popularly known by his artist name, Solid-T, who is a well-known singer and songwriter, comes from a family-run butcher business, which provided him with skills in meat preparation and processing.
“It is indeed a privilege for us in the province to showcase other seafood products during this NTF as well,” said Maetoloa.
Maetoloa got assistance from government ministries such as the Ministry of Commerce to kick start his business.
Dealing with cool room facilities and freezers, electricity is said to be one of the challenges.
“We started with limited capital. Although we started slowly, I believe we will build up to where we want,” said Maetoloa, who has transitioned from his music career to establish his successful smoked tuna business.
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