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Agriculture

Office for Cocoa Farmers

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Cocoa Farmers

Cocoa farmers in the Southern Region were gifted an office space on the third floor of Monian Tower in Port Moresby.

The small office set up consists of a reception area, where cocoa farmers can wait to be served. Workstations for two officers, the manager’s office and reasonable size board room for meetings and consultations purposes.

To signify this approach, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed, between Central Provincial Government and the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea (CBPNG).

The Central Governor, Rufina Peter, while commending the Cocoa Board added that cocoa farming in Central Province has a massive potential for generating income and needs a collaborative effort by relevant authorities.

“I am sure with collaborative efforts with the Cocoa Board we want to add to the statistics of production cocoa in the province,” said the Governor.

Cocoa Board CEO, Jesse Anjen, said the set-up of the Regional Office marks the first agreement between the Cocoa Board and a provincial government in the Southern Region.

“I am pleased this is what has happened. What we say and what we preach must happen. We are here to assist small holders in the Central Province. Particularly the Southern Region but we must do the work for it to become a reality,” said Anjen.

A K1 Million funding was put forward by the Central Provincial Government. This is to strengthen efforts of CBPNG in pushing for exports and downstream processing.

“The thing that excites me the most is, the opening of the Cocoa Board office for Southern Region and Central Province. I congratulate the board management of Cocoa Board for this decision. To finally consider Central Province as a potential cocoa producing province,” said Governor Peter.

Meanwhile, the Central Provincial Government has been conducting trainings and other programs. Along with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock with plans to develop the sector.

A recent workshop was also held at Kwikila Station in August this year.

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Agriculture

Kandangapma Women Undergo Capacity Building Program

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Kandangapma

38 members of the Kandangapma Women’s Business Group in Angoram took part in a capacity building program conducted through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-STREIT program.

The group consists of agripreneurs and business minded women, involved in fish processing and marketing, sewing and bilum making.

The first workshop, held in Angoram, centered on topics crucial for the success of MSMEs, like, group dynamics, effective leadership skills, and communication and encourages participants to assume leadership roles.

Assistant Chairlady of Kandangapma Women’s Business Group, Verjulah Mowe said she is now more aware of the different roles and responsibilities of her group members.

“I can now make a clear connection between good leadership and sound communication skills and the success of any group business,” said Mowe.

At the end of the workshop, a FAO-Thiaroye Technique (FTT) site for fish processing (fish smoking) was handed over to the Women’s Business Group.

This capacity-building opportunity had equipped these women entrepreneurs with the skills needed to manage their working capital, including the FTT, more effectively and efficiently as a group.

Patu Shang, the Gender and Youth Inclusion Specialist who took lead in the learning session said such trainings give women insight into management skills.

“When women become economically empowered through MSMEs, they gain a sense of agency, and contribute meaningfully to household incomes, thereby improving food and nutrition security, ultimately leading to a better quality of life,” said Shang.

Related: https://insidepng.com/eu-streit-program-partners-with-agri-enterprises/

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Business

Lae Biscuit Company Earns Prestigious FSSC 22000 Certification

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Lae Biscuit Company Earns Prestigious FSSC 22000 Certification

Lae Biscuit Company, a Papua New Guinea (PNG) owned food manufacturing company, has made history by becoming the first in the country to receive accreditation from SAI Global for the Food Safety System Certification FSSC 22000. This prestigious certification is a globally recognized food safety standard, which showcases the company’s commitment to international food industry requirements.

The FSSC 22000 certification is based on the technical specifications and standards of ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO/TS 22002, and the additional requirements of FSSC 22000. The accreditation process is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), implying a rigorous system to manage food safety risks and provide safe products for use by companies in the food industry.

The achievement is a significant milestone for the Lae Biscuit Company, particularly for the Chow family who have nurtured the business from its humble beginnings to a level where it now competes with multinational companies.

In 2021, Lae Biscuit Company, alongside ten other food manufacturing companies in Papua New Guinea, was awarded the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification by the Papua New Guinea Certification Services through the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) in PNG.

The attainment of the HACCP certification took three years, while the FSSC 22000 certification required over a year of dedicated effort.

Ian Chow, Chairman of Lae Biscuit Company, expressed his pride over the company’s accomplishment. He commended the managers and staff for their relentless commitment and for fulfilling all the requirements to achieve this certification.

Edwin Elmer Wong, the General Manager, shared the company’s delight in being the first PNG-owned company to receive the FSSC 22000 certification. He emphasized the importance of the certification, from the procurement of raw materials to line production and final products, and even to the up-skilling of manpower.

“The certification underlines Lae Biscuit as a food manufacturing company that produces trusted brands of exceptional quality and absolute value,” said Wong. He also noted that the certification would further enhance quality production and productivity through the identification of specific control points and the implementation of appropriate control measures.

The achievement comes after the opening of the state-of-the-art Lae Biscuit Company factory in October 2017. The company now guarantees its manufacturing safety systems and management in compliance with the latest benchmarking requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

The news of the FSSC 22000 certification came over the Independence weekend, marking a new chapter of global recognition for Lae Biscuit Company and Papua New Guinea’s food manufacturing industry.

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Agriculture

Mekeo Farmers Call

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Agriculture

A local farmer in Mekeo says if agriculture has to work, implementing government agencies need to work together to see results.

Augustine Maino is a cocoa and vanilla farmer from Inaui village of Kairuku District who recently participated in a farmer’s workshop held in Mekeo.

Participants of the farmers workshop in Mekeo recently.
Augustine Maino speaking at the gathering in Mekeo recently.

“I believe that for Agriculture to work, three other bodies must also play out their functions and roles; the farmer, DAL and the Government. When these three bodies are aligned and doing their jobs, there is no excuse that Agriculture will move forward. This coupled with good managers who are honest and equipped will see a more smoother transition.” said Maino.

Michael Atuai Central Province’s Agriculture Projects Office supports the call by farmers for a joint effort from all government agencies.

“I note some of the points raised by the farmers, I thank you for this point and (Central ) Governor will be informed accordingly, I am happy when I see young leaders like Patrick Avi, its always good to see young people taking the lead in economic aspiration” said Mr. Atuai.

Michael Atuai – CentralProvince Agricultural Projects
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Business

Israeli Businesses Offered Land

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Israeli Business

Prime Minister James Marape has offered land in a special economic zone in Papua New Guinea for interested Israeli businesses.

Marape extended the invitation to Israel Manufacturers Association to engage in business opportunities in PNG, hours after touching down in Tel Aviv on Monday.

“I would like to offer you land. As you give us land for our Embassy here, we would like to offer you land, not just for your mission in Port Moresby, but a big piece of land for a Special Economic Zone for Israeli businesses to take residence in our country to do business, to mount your satellite, and do business,” said Marape.

The Prime Minister flew to Israel to open PNG’s newest Embassy in Jerusalem.

While there, Marape spoke strongly about PNG’s resources in the oil, gas and mining space and sustainable resources in Forestry, Agriculture, and Fisheries.

“We have natural resources in oil and gas, and in our forestry, fisheries and agriculture. We have more than enough land for you to come in and start your businesses, and I am willing to give you tax-free incentives,”said Marape.

He said with PNG’s geographical location in relation to Asia and its thriving markets, Israeli businesses would do well for themselves to invest in Papua New Guinea.

“We are closest to the Asian markets. We are linked to many Asian countries at a government-to-government level. That is the competitive advantage we have over many other countries,” said Marape.

“Together, we can produce, label these as Israel-PNG produce, and export to the world. PNG is close to the Asian market than you are from Israel,” said Marape.

Israel’s main export commodity item has been High Technology Industries offering solutions to improve business, trade and investment, health, agriculture and education .

Senior Advisor on International Relations at the Manufacturers Association of Israel and President of the Federation of Binational Chambers of Commerce, Dan Catarivas said Israeli’s economic has advanced in the last 75 years.

In terms of business establishments in Papua New Guinea, Israel has invested in the Innovation Agriculture and Farming businesses in Port Moresby, East Sepik and the Highlands Region.

With these established businesses, Marape says PNG could partner with Israel to improve how business is managed and operated..

The delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Marape include State Ministers and senior government officials.

Israeli Business
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Business

8th Pacific Tuna Forum 2023 commences in Port Moresby

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8th Pacific Tuna Forum Kicks off in Port Moresby

THE Acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, John Rosso, officially opened the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum this morning in Port Moresby in the presence of Ministers and Departmental Heads from the fisheries sectors across the Pacific region.

Under the theme, “Strengthening Tuna Sustainability and Industry development in the ‘Blue Pacific Continent’ through increased innovation, partnership and participation”, stakeholders will address challenges faced by the regional tuna industry and chart a course forward for the future of the tuna resource and whole industry.

Managing Director of the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority said, the last Tuna Forum in 2019 was disrupted by Covid-19 but this year’s conference is well represented by all the Pacific nations.

“Pacific island countries value the importance of maintaining dialogue. These meetings have assisted countries in the region to come together and develop common positions and strategies to ensure the sustainable management of tuna in our region”, Ilakini said.

Mr Phil Roberts, Chairman of the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum and Board Director of Tri Marine International Pte Ltd, Singapore who described PNG as a ‘True leader in Pacific Industry and tuna management’ said the challenge now is maintaining the momentum whilst facing global challenges such as climate change and the developments in the industry through the creation of jobs and economic activity.

Head of event organizing Partners

“Fisheries in the Western Pacific is the best managed in the world, there’s a lot to do but I feel optimistic,” he said.

The Pacific Tuna forum is known for its impact on the sustainable management of tuna resources and preserving the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

The two-day forum will focus on key areas including Sustainable fisheries management; Ecosystem Conservation; Climate Resilience; Market Access and Trade; and Indigenous and Local Knowledge.

Expected outcomes from the forum discussions include Policy Recommendations, Innovative Solutions, Stakeholder Collaboration and Public Awareness for Tuna Fishing and Marine Resource sectors in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

The 8th Pacific Tuna forum is organized by the National Fisheries authority of Papua New Guinea with INFOFISH and regional partners including the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Parties to the Nauru Agreement Organization and the PNG Fishing Industry Association.

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Business

Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative

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Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative meeting

Seven Fisheries Ministers and Heads of Fisheries Departments from the Pacific Region converged into East New Britain at the start of this month led by the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources of Papua New Guinea, Jelta Wong for the Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative.

The Ministers and departmental heads were all invited to sit in on two high-level meetings to discuss key issues related to fisheries management, conservation, and sustainable development in the Pacific region.

The Forum Fisheries Committee meeting based on the U.S treaty distribution of funds was the first on the agenda. This meeting provided the platform for all heads of Fisheries in the Pacific to dialogue on how best to distribute the US$6million provided by the U.S Government to island nations that are members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) treaty.

Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative meeting
Justin Ilakini, NFA Managing Director.

Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority, Justin Ilakini said: “the aim of this meeting is to broker a deal amongst all parties involved to reach an agreement on an equal distribution of the funds to aid in development of the sector in smaller island nations of the Pacific Region.

The second meeting, the Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative saw PNG take the lead in providing the platform for Pacific Ministers across the region to create dialogue in addressing two key issues.

The first being climate change and the second, to tap into opportunities to maximize economic returns from the Pacific’s shared tuna resource.

Mr Ilakini in a press conference in Kokopo expressed hope that the leaders will identify practical ways of implementing the forum leaders’ development aspirations as contained in the Blue Pacific Continent.

“We are leading the initiative and providing the platform for our Pacific Island leaders to have the opportunity to have a voice in speaking from their own National Levels to see how we can collaborate as a region to drive the Pacific Island interest going forward in this multi-million-dollar industry which we have come to know as one of the most lucrative industries that we have; the tuna industry.”

To this, PNG’s Minister for Fisheries explained that the whole meet was to create a purpose for the region and showcase what the region is capable of doing in this space.

He further elaborated that the focus is on creating more wealth for the Pacific and controlling the stocks of the Pacific’s shared tuna resources against world players in the global tuna market.

“It’s better that if we stand united as one, the world will know that they can’t come and pick us off one by one”

Minister Wong said, that the initiative further aims to foster dialogue on better ways to mitigate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing; capitalize on the tuna resource; and ensure that the Pacific gets the best value from its shared tuna resource.

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Education

Journalists complete media training on Tuna

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Media training on tuna resource complete

ABOUT twenty media practitioners from Port Moresby and East New Britain completed a three-day media training course on the importance of the fisheries sector in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Region.

The aim of the media training is to ensure that journalists are better prepared to report on the  8th Pacific Tuna Forum that will be hosted by Papua New Guinea in the capital city, Port Moresby.

Training participants in discussion.
(From left) Carolyn from the Wantok Niuspaper in discussion with Godwin and Wasita from EMTV.

Part of the learnings included the growth of the National Fisheries Authority over time, their operating procedures and authoritative regulations and fishing. Among the topics of fishing was the most important, shared tuna resource of the Pacific region.

The training fostered interactive discussion between facilitators and journalists about some of the issues impacting the tuna market directly, such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and the impacts of external forces such as climate change and COVID-19.

Discussions about preservation and sustainable management of the resource for the future of the country and the wider Pacific and its people were some of the key indicators of the workshop.

President of the Papua New Guinea Media Council, Neville Choi, who was one of four facilitators of the training, encouraged journalists to do more research on tuna and the industry after the workshop in order to effectively report on the topics.

“Tuna is a global market and it impacts some of the major countries who deal with business and economics in the Pacific and a key to understanding all of that is knowing about the fish. The fish in itself is important and where it’s going to be in the next 50 years is important to our own Pacific livelihoods.”

Another facilitator and long-time Pacific journalist, Lisa Williams-Lahari, who’s been covering and following the Tuna stories globally shared her experiences as a Pacific islander and a journalist covering tuna; a resource that is closer to the heart of the pacific people.

“As a journalist following the tuna story worldwide, PNG has really represented the tuna tigers of this region (Pacific) to the world; in terms of leadership and development; and in terms of following the dollars that our people will benefit from in the terms to come.”

The three-day media training ended with a presentation of certificates to all participants and training facilitators.

The training was initiated and funded by the National Fisheries Authority in preparation for the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum which will be hosted by Papua New Guinea at the Stanley Hotel from the 6th-7th of September in Port Moresby.

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Business

Media workers undergo training ahead of 8th Pacific Tuna Forum

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Media personnel with Tuna training facilitators and NFA members


FOURTEEN media workers from Port Moresby are joining other media workers in Kokopo for a three-day media workshop ahead of the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum to be hosted on the 6th-8th of September in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The biannual PTF is the main arena where all stakeholders gather gauge the pulse of the tuna industry in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the broader ‘Blue Pacific Continent’; and to keep abreast of the latest sustainable management initiatives, innovative approaches and transformational endeavors at play or that could be further harnessed for the betterment of the industry.

The media workers training is most focused tuna and the inner workings of fisheries industry and will broaden the knowledge of those in attendance.

It is also an essential step toward understanding the importance of the tuna resource in and around the Pacific Region and will help journalists and reporters better cover the event and write stories about the 8th PTF next week.

Facilitators of the trainings include representatives from the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authorities, Forum Fisheries Agency and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. Representing the PNG Media Council, President, Neville Choi will be facilitating a session on media ethics around the reporting of tuna resources and story writing in today’s training session.

The media training is hosted by the PNG National Fisheries Authority at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort in Kokopo, East New Britain.

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Business

Ramu NiCo to Feature Women LO Group at Inaugural CANCONEX

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Ramu NiCo will Feature Women Landowner Group at Inaugural CANCONEX

Ramu NiCo’s Coastal Pipeline Landowners Women’s Association (CPL WA) from the Rai Coast District in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea will be participating in the inaugural Community Affairs and National Content Conference and Expo (CANCONEX) in Lae, Morobe Province as one of the successful association along the projects corridor area.

The CPL WA is a successful women’s landowner group and comprises of three zones that are Bugati, Marika and Siroi.

It has 3000 active registered members who successfully ventured into financially viable projects and businesses.

These have come to fruition from the portion of royalties allocated to the women’s group.

The portion, in most cases, is used as capital to acquire loans from the People’s Micro Bank branch in Madang to buy trucks and dinghies, which are being used as public motor vehicles (PMVs) to serve the local people living within the mining tenement area, venture into other small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

The expo is set to be held at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) in Lae, Morobe Province from the 28th to the 30th of August; Ramu NiCo is also a gold sponsor for the hosting of the event.

Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited will attend and participate in the first-ever CANCONEX with the theme of “Promoting National Participation for Sustainable Communities.”

With the encouragement of the President of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Anthony Smare, the conference is an avenue for participants to share their experiences and learn from each other, make new connections, seek opportunities and experience.

Ramu NiCo saw fit that it features one of the best performing and successful landowner groups from the four impact communities to represent their fellow landowner groups.

The successful Women Association from the Ramu NiCo Project in Madang Province is one of the fruitful associations that Ramu NiCo has seen being an active association apart from all the associations in the project’s corridor. Thus, Ramu NiCo thinks highly of this successful women group and other landowner groups coming from afar to attend the CANCONEX.

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