A small coffee enterprise has received an export license and is looking forward to growth in the PNG economy.
But, its owner confesses there are challenges that come from the lack of government support.
EMTV’s Business PNG recently spoke to Superior Coffee. A coffee enterprise in Port Morseby brings beans from the Eastern Highlands Province to roast and sell.
The Company recently got its own export license and looks forward to the bigger markets.
To reach those markets, Managing Director, David Vaso said the coffee sector needs more government help.
“We can run the country using revenue from coffee,” Vaso said.
General Manager, Romius Waki reckons Papua New Guinean coffee has a global potential to carve a niche.
“Our coffee is the best, we maintain quality,” says Waki.
Papua New Guinea exports one million bags of coffee annually.
After the drought last year, coffee exports racked over half a billion Kina in total revenue.
The sector could make more last year if the Highlands Highway wasn’t cut off for by landslides and floods.
Generally, Papua New Guinea’s agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, in the early 60’s through to the late 70’s, it was the backbone of the economy.
Today the billion Kina unsustainable extractive industry generates the revenue and sometimes government infrastructure support.
But with the decline in world oil, gas and mineral prices, PNG’s economy is now struggling more than ever before.
Now with the elections, there is now a shift in policy thinking; something that is showing in the campaign rhetoric. Many speak of a more sustainable economy with roots tapping into Agriculture.
