EU STREIT PNG Programme

The visit was facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the European Union-funded STREIT PNG Programme.

The Sepik cocoa farmers expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to learn from their counterparts in Bougainville. They said they would apply the knowledge and skills they gained in their own cocoa businesses, including cocoa block management, downstream processing, farm business diversification, and producing consistent quality cocoa beans to access premium markets.

FAO under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme will fund Cocoa, Vanilla and Fisheries businesses and promote development of local companies and entrepreneurs in the region.

The Fund supports PNG registered companies, licensed business people and cooperatives, associations and value chain actors in launching, expanding and introducing new agri-businesses and innovative solutions in East Sepik and Sandaun provinces.

Financed by the European Union, the STREIT Innovation Fund provides up to a maximum of K 1,000,000 of non-cash support to successful applicants, as follows:

The Secretariat consists of five interim executives, who are officers of the East Sepik and Sandaun Provincial Administrations, while two are from the private sector.

EU-STREIT PNG Programme, in its ongoing efforts helps to build the capacity of rural entrepreneurs and business activities and to create linkages of value chain actors with the public and private sector in the Sepik Region.

Officiating the inaugural meeting, the FAO Gender and Youth Leading Expert, Patu Shang, called for inclusive participation and genuine representation.