BOUGAINVILLE’s leading wholesale and retail business Jomik Trading Ltd is celebrating 25^thanniversary, since establishing itself in Buka.

To commemorate the occasion, the company is running in-store promotions in its main supermarket in Buka which also includes selling of raffle tickets for K5.00 for a chance to win one of three major prizes on offer. The first prize is a 56ins. LG TV screen valued at K7,000 and the other two prizes are shopping Vouchers valued at K500 and K200 from Jomik Trading.

Some suppliers representing various brands are also running promotions for their brands.

Jomik Trading Ltd - a 100 percent nationally owned trading company is engaged in wholesale and retail operations in Buka as well as Kokopau and Arawa on mainland Bougainville.

It is owned and operated by the Huuma family from Koropai village, Siwai District, South Bougainville. The company started operating in 1992 in their family house selling basic items like rice, tinned fish, sugar, salt as well as soap and other household items and gardening tools. These goods were purchased from across the boarder in the Solomon Islands because movement restrictions imposed by the National Government prevented Bougainvilleans from travelling to other parts of Papua New Guinea. This was during the Bougainville crisis.

Later when the restrictions were eased, goods for re-sale were purchased from Rabaul.

In 1995 the family took their business to Buka by a banana boat from Mamagota beach in Siwai, a trip that took more than 6 hours. They settled initially at Kubu and proceeded to operate a whole sale business out of a container while searching for a suitable and a convenient location. In 2004 they rented a venue where their first retail shop was opened and another place at the back road where they set up their wholesale.

In April 2010 Jomik Trading Ltd opened its Supermarket complex in Buka town. In the same year, it was unexpectedly confronted by its’ biggest challenge in its short history- the passing of their dad, the late Michael Huuma who was the managing director and one of the main driving forces of the Jomik business concept. However, the family refused to be intimidated by the tragedy and have continued to effectively manage the company to make it the biggest locally owned wholesale and retail company in the region.

In 2017 the company faced it’s second biggest challenge, when their newly commissioned central warehouse complex was gutted by fire which is believed to have started from an electrical fault.

The company is managed by Josephine Huuma, the mother  as Managing Director and Irene Huuma, the daughter as the General Manager.

From that humble beginning in 1992, Jomik Trading has evolved to become Bougainville’s premier wholesale and retail company and a major player in Bougainville’s economic recovery process. It now operates wholesale outlets in Buka and Arawa as well as a Cash and Carry at Kokopau, a Hardware and a supermarket in Buka.  It is looking forward to opening its new supermarket at the end this month in Arawa.

It is the Region’s distributor of all the major and popular brands like; Lae Biscuit, Nestle products, Pacific Industry products, Gala Ice Cream, Goodman Fielder, International, Hugo Canning, Trukai, Panamex, SP Beer products, Diana Tuna, New Guinea Table bird’s products to name a few.

Through a well-established and well stocked distribution network it offers a wide range of products to a diversified cross section of customers throughout the Region which includes small village based trade stores, other major retailers, government agencies, Schools and individuals.

The commitment to its customers will always be at the forefront of the company’s development endeavours because it recognizes the valuable support they have contributed to the growth of the company from since the beginning.

Jomik’s desire to grow and expand is restricted by a number of very fundamental constraints which include lack of land which has forced them to acquire and rent traditional land and properties which have proven to be excessively costly. Despite these impediments Jomik continues to operate and provide high quality products at affordable prices.

Jomik Trading Ltd as Bougainville’s premier trading company hopes to be an influential and an important partner in driving economic development and recovery on Bougainville especially in the area of trading. Jomik recognizes the great support that has been accorded to it from the beginning, by ordinary Bougainvilleans, government agencies and other customers and is always committed to providing quality products.

As an Indigenous Bougainville Company Jomik is committed to supporting economic growth by enhancing liquidity, providing employment and supporting community based activities such as sports activities and faith based events.

Jomik also realizes that as the situation on Bougainville improves, economic opportunities will be realized, and more players will enter the fields it is in. This will also mean congestion in the market and business like ours will have to work smarter to secure a favourable market share.

In view of this Jomik Trading is considering further diversifying its areas of engagement by pursuing property and real estate investment. They have already acquired a number of properties in Rabaul and Port Moresby. In coming years they hope to increase theirr stake in this field.

By Paul Wagum

While Bougainville’s political future looks challenging they see the role of Bougainville business as vital to the growth of the Region especially in creating, employment opportunities for the people while enhancing economic recovery.

Currently it is estimated that at least 60% of Bougainville’s population comprise of youth and bulk of them are unemployed, which means that they are not contributing to the economic development but they still need to access services like health and education.

Therefore, Jomik Trading Ltd is committed to working with the respective Autonomous Bougainville Governments to support economic growth and political stability in the region, and to achieve the greater Bougainville goal.