A growing generation of coffee lovers in the United Nations is a huge potential for PNG growers and producers.
In an interview with Business Advantage PNG, PNG’s High Commissioner to the UK, Winnie Kiap, says PNG has to tap into a growing young population of coffee drinkers in the UK.
‘They are becoming a big nation of coffee drinkers because the young population now prefers to be identified with coffee than with tea. It’s a coffee generation. So that’s the market that we have to target,” said Kiap.
The announcement by Kiap follows two successful trade delegations which have boosted awareness.
In July 2015, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led a business delegation comprising members of parliament, senior government officials and industry chiefs to London.
300 UK business people attended the forum and were excited by the huge potential investment opportunities they saw in PNG.
Four months later, Kiap accompanied a delegation of British companies from London to Port Moresby.
Business Advantage PNG state that as the UK government grapples with the complexity of its Brexit decision, Kiap, says PNG needs to realign its economic relationship with London.
‘We have an investment promotion protection agreement with the UK. We have a double-taxation protection treaty with the UK. But we do not have a trade agreement because the UK, being part of the EU, has no bilateral trade arrangements.
‘PNG’s current relationship with the UK for trade is mainly through the EU.’ She said.
Picture credit: Business Advantage PNG