The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Agriculture and Trade Festival is set for this Friday 28th August, marking also the 70th Anniversary of the Coffee Industry and Agriculture in the country.

The main host of this significant event is the Famers and Settlers Association (FSA). The President of the FSA Mr. Wilson Thompson, says the event will take place in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province and has already attracted over 30 corporate, government and financial institutions.

‘We have Chemica Ltd, International Container Terminal Ltd and PNG Biosecurity Authority (former NAQIA) coming on as Bronze Sponsors, and we invite others that wish to support the Festival and events,” he said.

“The festival is to celebrate as well as showcase and promote the primary industry sector and innovations and its importance in business and industry, and trade and primary to secure our food and income security of the country.”

The festival is historic as it also celebrates the establishment of the Association in 1956 and also the hosting of the first Highlands (Goroka) Show by the Association to bring together tribal groups and to showcase agriculture, commerce and industry.

Also, the year 1956 is memorable as the coffee industry was firmly established after the visit of Professor Baron Goto from the University of Hawaii, invited under the sponsorship of the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac Bank), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (now BSP), Colyer Watson Ltd, A. H Bunting Ltd and the Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association, to study and report on the viability of the Coffee Industry. He also visited the cocoa establishments.

Following the passing of the Coffee Industry Act, the National Coffee Authority has now replaced the Coffee Industry Corporation, with its own Board and powers and functions.

Meanwhile, the gate fees for the festival have been slashed to allow more people to enter the Showground to learn more about the coffee industry and agriculture as a business opportunity.