Five coffee groups to build factories

FIVE new coffee grower groups have been granted permits by the Coffee Industry Corporation board to build factories.
They are  the East New Britain Coffee Growers Corporative Association, Enga-based Kompiam Co-operative Society Ltd, Eastern Highlands-based Logia Wago Coffee Management Services, Chimbu-based Neretere Coffee Ltd and Mt Hagen-based Rokel Wet Factory.
Goroka-based Hanu Coffee Producers had obtained a licence for dry processing aside from a licence to build a dry coffee factory.
“Licence and permits were approved for these coffee companies after a full inspection of their facilities by the CIC coffee inspectors,” CIC chief executive Navi Anis said.
He urged coffee companies to comply with the licence and permit agreements and move to the higher levels of the coffee business.
Meanwhile, a total 121 licences and permits for various coffee businesses were approved for this year.
They include six manufacturing companies, 17 exporters, 49 dry processors and 37 wet processors while seven permits to build a factory were renewed.
A total of 23 licences were not approved due to non-compliance issues.
However, Anis said the companies could re-apply next March once all compliance issues had been resolved.
Licence and permits for the respective coffee companies were issued to them starting last week.