Beef processing capacity

PAPUA New Guinea must do more to capitalise on its processing capacities, says European Union Ambassador to PNG Ioannis Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos.
Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos made the comments during the European Union-PNG Business and Investment Conference in Port Moresby yesterday saying it was one of the challenges that faced the country.
He said the European market had a high demand for quality and the current Economic Partnership Agreement was the best path.
“We have a very successful economic partnership agreement that provides duty free for all Papua New Guinea products,” he said.
“The only successful sector I would say is fisheries. There is still more room for further extension and expansion.
“One of the challenges of the economic partnership agreement is to explore opportunities.
“The fact is that European consumers demand high quality which is defined through sustainable production.
“PNG is one of the biggest exporters of round logs, even if these logs, are not exported directly to Europe, they are processed somewhere in between Europe and PNG to certify that there is sustainable production. We also have a high demand for health standards, which relates to quality.
“There is also a demand for organic products. Organic products is a niche market and PNG has potential here.”
Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos said EU continued to support the improvement of business environment in PNG.
“We support PNG’s efforts in meeting its international obligations under the World Trade Organisation’s trade facilitation agreement to meet international obligations.”
Meanwhile, PNG Ambassador to the European Union Joshua Kalinoe said the government needed to do more to decrease the cost of doing business in the country
He said e-commerce would be the solution to trading in Europe.
“The digital economy is supposed to be the solution but we need to have the proper regulatory framework and proper controls.”