Officials visit thrills authority

 THE investment Promotion Authority (IPA) is pleased with visits by manufacturers of commodities such as coffee and cocoa in the country to meet with local farmers.

IPA managing director Ivan Pomaleu said such arrangements were encouraging and gave more value to the country’s local businesses and export sector.  

He said IPA was optimistic that there would be more visits by other chocolate manufacturers.

Pomaleu said cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea had all the reasons to smile given the recent developments in the industry.

The quality of PNG cocoa has proven to be one of the best in the world with its rich flavour enabling a United States chocolate company to scoop the 2013 International Chocolate Awards.

Dandelion Chocolate is a boutique chocolate manufacturer in the US. Their chocolate, labeled the Dandelion Chocolate Papua New Guinea 70%, has won a Silver Award. The company makes chocolate bars using PNG cocoa which they buy from Agmark Ltd.