Image: CREAC members together with CIC management and staff at the recent meeting held in Aiyura on 25th October, 2016.
After ten years of dormancy, the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) has finally revived its Coffee Research and Extensive Advisory Committee (CREAC) meeting.
CICs Chief Executive Officer, Charles Dambui, while thanking all members who had accepted CICs invitation to be part of the forum announced it was a positive move to bring back CREAC into the industry.
Dambui said, “CREAC was an effective and important committee that provided an advisory role to scrutinise all CIC projects.”
The forum on Wednesday, October 25 2016 in Aiyura, Eastern Highlands Province, has been the first after 10 years since the last meeting in 2006.
Current CREAC members who attended include Dr. Kulala Mulung of PNG Science and Technology Council Secretariat; Dr. Odongo Odhuno of National Research Institute; Mr Gordon Wallangas of the University of Goroka; Professor Shamsul Akanda of the University of Technology; Dr. Gerard Saleu of Institute of Medical Research (IMR); Mr Steven Goie of Institute of National Affairs; Mr William Kerua of UOT; Mr Thomalis Hoa of National Development Bank; Mr Gad Wamiri of Plantations and Processors Association; and Mr Johannes Pakatul of National Agricultural Research Institute.
Dambui added that the organisation would like to receive as much as possible feedback and critiques from external experts through this forum, to guide and move the industry forward.
“We are guided by such a forum to deliver on what we need to deliver.” He said the forum provided a platform on which officers could reflect on their abilities and relevance to the industry.
Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Projects (PPAP) Program Manager, Potaisa Hombunaka, shared his memories of the effectiveness of the CREAC in the past and challenged scientists and staff to use the opening forum as a learning experience and prepare well for the future meetings to come.
The CREAC committee screens projects and approves for funding that are relevant to the coffee industry. The recent meeting will pave the way forward for future forums and bring back order into the industry. It has been an important committee where they take decisions and make firm recommendations to the CIC board for approving relevant and current projects.
Mr Dambui acknowledged PPAP for making the first forum possible and for allocating funds to hold another forum next year.
The recent meeting saw research, extension, industry regulations and support staff present various projects and updates to the CREAC members.
