The Coffee Industry Corporation Limited (CIC) was first established as the Papua New Guinea Coffee Marketing Board in 1963 and commenced operations in 1964. It then became the Coffee Industry Board in 1976 and finally to the Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd. The CIC currently has two divisions operating within the country;
- Industry Operations Division (IOD) and,
- Research & Grower Services Division (R&GSD)
The CIC has its head office in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province (EHP), where the Chief Executive Officer is also based. CIC’s Roles and Responsibilities The CIC has wide powers to buy and sell coffee, set prices and monitor export of coffee under its Industry Operations Division. However, to date it has concentrated on it’s regulatory functions, leaving the marketing of coffee in the hands of private companies licensed by the CIC. Some responsibilities of the CIC through its IOD include the following:
- control of coffee dealing activities;
- registration of coffee exporters and processing facilities;
- quality control and control of exports, and;
- promotions of sale and consumption of PNG coffee at home and abroad.
CIC also has an Export Office based in Lae, Morobe Province where the bulk of PNG coffee is exported overseas. The Industry Regulations section of the IOD is responsible for control of coffee dealing activities and registration processes whilst it’s Export Office is responsible for export control of coffee exported from Papua New Guinea. The Promotions and Marketing section also located in Goroka is responsible for promotions and marketing of PNG produced coffee. CIC’s research division (R&GSD) is responsible for conducting adaptive research activities to improve and maintain the quality and quantity of PNG coffee as well as offering services to growers in the industry. The main office is based at Aiyura, EHP. Apart from the main research station in Aiyura, it also has two research stations – Western Highlands Substation in the Western Highlands Province and Omuru Research Station in Madang Province. Grower services activities of the CIC are also conducted in 14 provincial offices located in the main coffee growing provinces around the country, with the main coordination of operations being conducted from Aiyura. These services are aimed at farmers who are recognized by the CIC through its PRAP program including other interested farmers.