Recently, a delegation of 10 Ramu NiCo’s PNG employees were invited to China to participate in a program from September 10-12, 2024 “China Copper Cup” Overseas Enterprise Local Team Leader Comprehensive Management Skills Competition. In this competition, 64 overseas non-ferrous metal industry participants of 13 teams from 8 countries participated in the competition. The competition focused on the core contents of team production management such as safety and environmental protection management and production site management, and focused on assessing the general management ability and production management skills of grass-roots managers. The competition is divided into three parts: theoretical knowledge test, speech defense and practical operation. The theoretical examination and speech defense are individual examinations, the practical operation is a team examination, and the team practical operation score is also everyone’s score, so the individual score is the theory+speech+team practical operation score. Ramu NiCo team successfully completed the competition, and won one team third prize, one individual second prize and four individual third prizes. For this competition, Ramu NiCo delegation arrived in Beijing ahead of schedule and made full preparations.
The delegates firstly visited the Beijing office for a cultural exchange program. Ramu NiCo’s Chairman Wang Zhou extended the warmest welcome to the PNG employees, who had traveled across the ocean to visit Beijing. He noted that the Ramu Nickel Project has been based in Papua New Guinea for over a decade, contributing to Papua New Guinea economic development, public welfare career as well as cultivating thousands of skillful local employees. Employees are considered the most valuable treasure. As the biggest “The Belt and Road Initiative” investment project in South Pacific Area, Ramu NiCo is devoted to deepening the friendship and economic cooperation with Papua New Guinea, promoting mutual integration, and making remarkable contributions to the economic and social development of Papua New Guinea.
During the visit, the delegates were invited to visit many cultural sites such as The Great Wall, The Palace Museum, Beijing Olympic Park, Beijing Capital Museum and Beijing Polytechnic University, experience high-speed train, learn about AI and electrical vehicle, and try various delicious food. Joseph Umare, Benny and Kenna mentioned their stories with Ramu NiCo.
Mr. Joseph Umare recalled, “I joined Ramu NiCo in 2020 in the capacity of Deputy Registered Mine Manager until 2022 when the GM Sarimu Kanu resigned. I was elevated to his role as the Mine General Manager & Registered Mine Manager. Now I have been with Ramu NiCo for 4 years and I intend to remain with this project long-term and continue to make contribution to PNG mining development and economic development.”
Mr. Joseph Umare also talked about Ramu NiCo’s contribution to local communities and PNG economic development in detail. He said, “I think Ramu Nickel Project has been making great contributions to local communities’ development and PNG development including the following aspects: Employment, Royalties’ payment – landowners, local government, provincial government receiving annual royalty payments, business opportunities spins offs to local companies such as Raibus security, Raibus engineering, and enormous tax collection.”
Kenna said, “I completed grades education in 2014 at Ennekuai Village near KBK Mine. I started working with Ramu NiCo in 2018 because Ramu NiCo provided me and many other people with job opportunities. Now I have been working here for over 6 years and thanks for giving me this opportunity to travel to China！”
Benny said, “I have been working at Ramu NiCo for about 9 years and I come from Morobe Province, PNG. I finished my college at St Josephs Technical College in Lae. To begin with, I worked at Ramu Nickel Project as a contractor, but Ramu NiCo gave me the chance to be a formal employee member of them. This time, thank Ramu NiCo for giving the opportunity of traveling to China, and I saw a lot of amazing things and technologies. I will advance my professional capacity to make contribution to my country and China-PNG friendship. I hope to see more cooperation in the future.”
Mr. Joseph Umare, Benny, Kenna and other delegates extended their appreciation to the organization the annual China Copper Challenge in Chifeng City, China. “This competition gives us an opportunity to visit China and interact with colleagues from other mines around the world. China is an amazing country and has been rapidly developing over the last 40 years and has some of best historically sites over thousands of years. In the future, we expect more cooperation between Papua New Guinea and China to jointly build a better future for both sides and global prosperity.”
