PNG to seek buyers at China exposition

PAPUA New Guinea is eyeing international buyers for its various products at the forthcoming international trade exposition in Shanghai, China in May.
Trade exhibitors from PNG will showcase coffee, aquaculture, tourism and cultural products and promote them to international investors and buyers.
Officials from the Department of Commerce and Industry have begun touring the provinces to collect product samples with potential to attract international buyers and investors.
Assistant secretary for International Business Development Nolpi Kilwa and Personnel and Training Affairs secretary Richard Pereap were in Eastern Highlands, Simbu and Western Highland provinces this week to identify and collect local products for inclusion in the exposition.
Among priority items considered were coffee products like Sigiri ground coffee from Western Highlands and those produced by Goroka Coffee Roasters and Arabica Coffee.
Mr Kilwa and Mr Pereap also went to Kainantu to get samples of ceramic products at the Eastern Highlands Cultural Centre that included mugs, wine cups, soup bowls and coffee cups.
He said aside from coffee and ceramics, his department will also feature other sectors of PNG industry like tourism, mining, forestry, fisheries and agriculture sector.
Mr Kilwa said products from PNG would be showcased along with those from the Pacific region.
During a briefing with Coffee Industry Corp (CIC) chief executive Navi Anis in Goroka yesterday, Mr Kilwa said they were encouraged to aggressively promote PNG coffee at the exposition.
Mr Anis has encouraged them to convince local coffee roasters and exporters to attend the expo as it is an effective way to market and promote PNG products.
The samples collected from the four regions of PNG would be shipped to China from Lae next Friday.
Mr Kilwa said they will also present a video of PNG cultures and will display posters of the country’s tourism industry.