CIC: Quality coffee will boost earnings

By ZACHERY PER
THE production of qua­lity coffee is paramount in boosting the crop’s export earnings, the Coffee Industry Corporation says.
“Stakeholders of the coffee industry are urged to play their part to ensure the country continues to produce quality coffee,” the corporation’s industry regulation and compliance section acting manager, Waim said.
He issued this remin­der to all coffee growers at the presentation of a coffee processing licence to Hanu Coffee Producers managing director Tom Nunuwe in Goroka, Eastern Highlands pro­vince, this week.
He described Nunuwe as a classic role model who strive to produce quality coffee where others should emulate.
He congratulated Nunu-
­­­we for receiving the licence to process parchment coffee and for his commitment to the industry.
He said that Nunuwe had struggled and progressed from a “permit to erect a dry factory” to acquiring the processor’s licence.
“Tom is a good role mo­del for our local coffee businessman,” Waim said.
Nunuwe said it took him two years from 2010 to 2011 to design and build
his factory with about K2 million worth of machinery assistance from PNG Coffee Exports.
“I have settled most of
the money owed to PNG Coffee Exports and am looking forward to working closely with CIC to further develop my factory and produce quality coffee,” Nunuwe said.
Waim urged Nunuwe and other coffee companies to work closely with the CIC to produce qua­lity coffee and raise the profile of PNG coffee on the international market.
It was an emotional day for Nunuwe who struggled for the past 25 years to obtain a licence.
He said he was satisfied the CIC had recognised his performance and granted him the coffee processor’s licence.  
“I left school at Grade 4 and all my life was spent in farming and selling coffee until I end up to where I am today,” Nunuwe said.
His newly-built coffee factory is located at 5-Mile, outside Goroka town and near the Highlands Highway.