Farm hopes Apec can unlock new markets

By CLARISSA MOI
THE 9-Mile Farm outside Port Moresby is looking at the Apec Leaders’ Summit as the key that will unlock export market opportunities, says the executive chairman of Innovative Agro Industry, Ilan Weiss.
“Our relevant export markets are either in the Pacific, like Fiji and recently to the Federated States of Micronesia,” he said.
“Getting the exposure during Apec is a great way for us to network with partner organisations and start exporting our produce to other countries in the world.”
Weiss said their recent Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification was an advantage to sell their farm produce, whether it be on cruise ships or hotels.
“The summit is a great opportunity to sell our products and showcase ours and PNG’s produce,” he said. “We believe we will get brilliant exposure.”
Weiss said 9-Mile Farm was basically filling in the gap which used to be filled by imports from Australia and New Zealand.
“About 99.9 per cent of what we are doing is import replacement,” he said.
“The set-up in Enga, for example, is an agro set-up.
“We bring the potatoes from Enga to sell in Port Moresby.
“We purchase from small farmers, we process and sell them.
“We are a market link for rural farmers all over the country.”