Photo: Keith Scott, the British High Commissioner to PNG
The British Government, as a significant partner, wants to help Papua New Guinea access its natural resources, especially agriculture, according to British High Commissioner Keith Scott.
Scott visited Goroka to see coffee production along with Dr. Ruth Wiseman, director of Oceania, South-East Asia, and Pacific directorate for the United Kingdom.
“Prime Minister James Marape made it very clear that agriculture is a major employer in PNG,” he said.
“We have seen in agriculture, whether coffee or palm oil or huge natural resources that can be exploited, waiting to be developed in PNG.
“What we can do as partners to help the Government develop its richness?”
He applauded the government for establishing separate ministries for coffee, oil palm, and other commodities, as this showed "its determination to harness the immense natural resources and agriculture potential."
In Goroka, Wiseman saw coffee gardens, plantations, and manufacturers.
She said that they were also attempting to understand the difficulties the coffee sector was facing and how the UK might help to support producers.
“There is a real opportunity for PNG coffee to be sold in the UK and other parts of Europe,” she said. “We must work on finding a sustainable way to assist in coffee production.
“We have to find steps to improve the process involved in the coffee production with increased quantity with quality.”
Reference. The National (3 November 2022). “Envoy sees huge potential in agriculture”.
