Olam International has awarded ten of its top coffee suppliers in a fitting ceremony in Goroka on Tuesday, 8th November, 2016.
It was an effort to reward all the business partners who supported Olam to become the third largest player in the country.
Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) media reported that Olam International which operates as Outspan (PNG) Ltd in Papua New Guinea is a global agri-business leader, operating in 70 different countries and has direct presence across 21 major coffee origins operates in PNG.
The media confirmed Mr Amit Verma, Olam’s country manager for the Asia Pacific region, has flown in from Singapore to PNG to personally meet and thank all its coffee suppliers for the year 2016.
According to Mr Verma, the groups were awarded based on commitment with Outspan, the quality of coffee supplied and the business risks they had taken to work with them throughout the year.
“We cannot grow unless we have our partners succeeding with us. They are the reason why we are here.”
Kingsley Lobu, a coffee supplier representing Leloka Coffee from Lufa district, said it was rewarding under this arrangement as Outspan offered incentives that motivated them to commit to the company.
From CIC general manager industry operations Steven Tumae, it is understood CIC and Outspan began working together since 2014 on a tripartite arrangement to rehabilitate Anego plantation in Goroka.
Tumae said in just the second year of operation, the plantation has been able to start repaying Outspan as financiers of this program.
Whilst congratulating Outspan on their initiative in recognising their suppliers and for being the third largest exporter of PNG coffee, he urged Outspan to also look at other cash crops under such arrangements that can bring more benefit to the rural farmers.
Mr. Verma said the Anego plantation was on schedule and the company anticipated seeing more success so that it could continue to invest in some other plantations if it’s commercially viable.
The top 10 coffee suppliers who have participated under group marketing with the company include Awute coffee, Lokove coffee, Leloka coffee, Maken coffee supplies, Davina coffee, Narex Investment Ltd, Simbu Yomba coffee, Yondu coffee producers, Wanima coffee and Sirigine coffee producers.
